In a dramatic turn of events, just hours after the audacious theft of crown jewels from the Louvre, another French museum was the target of a burglary. This time, around 2,000 gold and silver coins, valued at approximately €90,000 (£78,000; $104,000), were stolen from the Maison des Lumières, a museum dedicated to the philosopher Denis Diderot in northeastern France on Sunday night.
When the museum reopened on Tuesday, staff discovered a smashed display case and immediately alerted authorities. According to local officials, the coins were selected with great expertise, indicating a well-planned operation.
This incident marks the latest in a worrying uptick of heists at cultural institutions across France. Just last month, thieves made off with six gold nuggets valued at around €1.5 million from the Natural History Museum in Paris. A Chinese national has been arrested in connection with that heist in Barcelona.
In September, additional significant thefts included Chinese porcelain dishes worth €6.55 million taken from a national porcelain museum in Limoges, with no arrests yet made. Furthermore, the recent Louvre heist involving €88 million worth of jewels – executed in broad daylight – highlighted the severe security weaknesses in France's premier cultural landmarks.
Following these incidents, concerns have been raised regarding the adequacy of security measures at French museums. Louvre director Laurence des Cars has acknowledged the glaring gaps, stating that many areas within the museum lack proper surveillance.
Overall, this string of thefts has posed a serious challenge to the preservation and security of France's cultural heritage, prompting calls for increased security protocols and awareness among museum authorities.
