Thieves have successfully executed a heist at the Natural History Museum in Paris, absconding with gold samples valued at approximately €600,000. This incident represents a troubling continuation of thefts targeting cultural institutions. Known for its extensive collection of dinosaur skeletons and taxidermy, the museum also showcases a significant gallery dedicated to geology and mineralogy.
The break-in was reported on the morning of September 17, when intruders allegedly employed sophisticated tools such as an angle grinder and a blow torch to gain access to the museum’s premises. The museum, located in the fashionable 5th arrondissement of Paris, is frequented by both locals and tourists, making it a prominent site in the city.
According to the museum’s press office, the stolen items included several specimens of native gold from the national collections. While the monetary worth of the stolen gold is substantial, the museum emphasized that these pieces hold immense cultural and heritage value. Native gold, primarily found in unrefined forms, consists of gold and silver alloys and is prized for its natural beauty.
Emmanuel Skoulios, the museum director, characterized the incident as the work of an “extremely professional team,” noting that the thieves demonstrated advanced knowledge of the museum’s layout and possessed professional-grade equipment. He remarked that the targeted nature of the theft suggests a well-planned operation.
Following the break-in, the museum closed its mineralogy gallery and initiated a thorough inventory check of its collection to identify any additional losses. One noteworthy specimen includes a native gold and quartz piece from the Donatia mine in California, once gifted to the museum by a French benefactor.
The museum’s statement highlighted that the incident occurred during a “critical time” for cultural institutions in France, with several public collections having previously been victimized by thieves. Although specifics were not disclosed regarding other thefts, it was noted that the Adrien Dubouché National Museum in Limoges suffered a similar fate earlier this month, with stolen items valued at around €6.5 million.
Past incidents further illustrate the growing trend of museum-related crimes. In November of the previous year, robbers armed with axes and baseball bats launched a daytime attack at the Cognacq-Jay museum in Paris, stealing numerous 18th-century artworks. The day following that theft, an armed robbery at another museum in Saône-et-Loire resulted in the loss of jewellery valued in the millions.
Among the most infamous museum heists in recent history was the robbery at the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris in May 2010. A burglar known as “Spiderman,” whose real name is Vjeran Tomic, stole artworks by renowned artists including Matisse and Picasso, with a total value exceeding €100 million. This notorious heist exposed significant security flaws at the museum, ultimately leading to Tomic’s imprisonment.
As authorities investigate the latest theft, the incident raises serious concerns about the safety and security of cultural institutions in France, which seem increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated criminal activities.
