Approximately 2,000 gold and silver coins worth €90,000 (£78,000; $104,000) were stolen during a raid at a museum in France, just hours after the audacious theft of some of the French crown jewels at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The incident occurred at the Maison des Lumières, a museum dedicated to philosopher Denis Diderot, located in Landres, north-eastern France, on Sunday night. Staff discovered the break-in upon the museum's reopening on Tuesday when they found a smashed display case.
Local authorities reported that the coins had been taken with “great expertise” from the collection, leading to concern among officials regarding security at cultural institutions in France.
This robbery is part of an alarming trend, as recent months have seen a series of heists impacting museums across the country. In a separate incident, criminals recently stole six gold nuggets valued at approximately €1.5 million from the Paris Natural History Museum.
The coins stolen from the Maison des Lumières date from between 1790 and 1840, forming an integral part of the local private collection. They were uncovered during renovation work in the building that now houses the museum.
Security experts worry that the breakthrough at the Louvre, where €88 million worth of jewellery was stolen in a spectacular daylight heist, may inspire further similar crimes at lesser-secured locations. Reports indicate that many institutions lack adequate security measures, making them vulnerable to theft.
As scrutiny intensifies, museum directors are being urged to overhaul their security systems to prevent future incidents and preserve France’s cultural heritage.
