Theft of the bronze figures in the fairytale fountain: City of Cologne without a security concept

Theft of the bronze figures in the fairytale fountain: City of Cologne without a security concept

According to a report by www.ksta.de, the fairytale fountain in Mülheim City Garden was stolen at the end of October 2023, and the city of Cologne announced that there was no security concept for restoration measures of historical buildings. Both the theft of the life-size bronze figures and the theft of other bronze sculptures at other locations show that metal theft is not an isolated event. The city plans to work with the legal and insurance office to examine whether and under what conditions insuring the city's fountain systems would be possible and economical.

Against the background of such incidents, it becomes clear that municipal fountains are a target for theft. The theft of works of art not only means the loss of cultural values, but also has financial consequences. The costs of restoration and restoration as well as the potential reduction in value of the affected assets must be taken into account.

If the city of Cologne were to actually consider insurance for its fountain systems, this would have both financial and operational consequences. Such insurance could lead to higher ongoing costs for the city, but also better security and protection in the event of theft. In addition, the installation of security measures and systems could be part of the insurance conditions, which would provide additional protection.

The impact on the art market could also be felt, as stolen artworks often end up on the black market, affecting legitimate art trade. This may lead to increased surveillance and security measures for the sale and transport of art objects.

Overall, this incident shows that the theft of art objects and cultural property not only represents a cultural loss, but also has far-reaching economic and social effects. It is important that measures are taken to prevent and minimize such thefts.