Daylight raiders snatched eight small Italian Renaissance bronze plaques worth nearly $1 million, the Independent said.

Officials said one of the museum's older wooden-framed showcases in a gallery next to the central garden was forced open.

Museum Director Mark Jones said it appeared to be "a well-planned professional theft."

The V&A is in the middle of a major program to upgrade security and replace old display cases throughout the museum and many galleries have been completed.