In a series of audacious museum thefts, approximately 2,000 gold and silver coins, valued at nearly €90,000, were stolen during a robbery at the Maison des Lumières (House of Enlightenment) in Landres, northeastern France. This incident transpired just hours after the theft of priceless jewels from the Louvre, the world-renowned museum in Paris.
On Tuesday, when the museum reopened, workers discovered a shattered display case, prompting immediate action from local authorities. According to officials, the stolen coins were selected with 'great expertise', marking this crime as a significant cultural loss.
This heist is not an isolated event; it falls in line with a troubling series of thefts targeting cultural institutions across France. Just last month, six gold nuggets worth €1.5 million were stolen from the Paris Natural History Museum, and two Chinese porcelain dishes worth over €6.5 million were taken from a museum in Limoges, with both instances highlighting a trend in high-stakes art thefts.
The spike in such incidents has raised urgent concerns regarding the security measures at these institutions. During a recent public address, Louvre director Laurence des Cars admitted that the security systems at the Louvre were outdated, revealing that critical surveillance points lacked coverage where the recent robbery occurred. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin expressed dismay at the ongoing thefts, stating that they tarnish France's image internationally.
As authorities work to uncover the details surrounding these brazen crimes, experts suggest the possibility of coordinated efforts by criminal groups looking to exploit vulnerabilities within France's cultural heritage institutions.
