Historic gold specimens valued at approximately €600,000 but deemed priceless by scientists have been stolen from the French national natural history museum, marking another incident in a troubling series of recent museum robberies across France. The museum has expressed concerns over these incidents, noting that “this has happened in a critical context for cultural establishments in France, particularly museums.” Several public collections have been targeted in similar high-profile thefts in recent months.
The audacious crime took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning, when a well-organized group targeted the museum’s geology and mineralogy gallery. Cleaning staff discovered the breach later that day, and an immediate inventory confirmed the absence of four to six gold pieces. Authorities believe the criminals utilized an angle grinder and a blowtorch to bypass security measures and gain entry into the high-security facility located along the Seine River, close to Paris’s Jardin des Plantes.
A spokesperson for the museum noted that the thieves specifically targeted “several specimens of native gold from the national collections.” Despite their market value being around €600,000 based on the current price of gold, the true worth of these items lies in their irreplaceable historical and scientific significance. The spokesperson lamented the impact of this theft on research and public accessibility to the collection.
Importantly, native gold consists of a natural alloy of gold and silver, and among the museum’s notable treasures is a sample measuring 9cm by 8.5cm, sourced from the Donatia mine in California and formerly owned by a prestigious French collector. Museum director Emmanuel Skoulios emphasized the sophisticated nature of the crime, stating that the perpetrators displayed a clear understanding of their objective and the necessary equipment to carry it out.
Following the theft, the mineralogy gallery was closed as Paris’s organized crime division launched an investigation into the incident. Enhanced security protocols were instituted, with staff meticulously reviewing the collection for any additional losses.
This robbery is part of a disturbing pattern of thefts affecting cultural institutions in France. Just this month, the Adrien-Dubouché National Museum in Limoges experienced a significant breach where thieves stole three porcelain artifacts valued at over €6.5 million, classified as national treasures. The mayor of Limoges remarked on the deteriorating security landscape, indicating that criminality is on the rise and museums must stay vigilant against sophisticated criminal operations exploiting the art world.
In recent years, other high-profile thefts have further highlighted vulnerabilities in museum security. Last November, armed assailants wreaked havoc at the Cognacq-Jay Museum in Paris, targeting a sought-after exhibition and making away with multiple valuable items. Just a day later, millions in jewelry was stolen during an armed robbery at the Hiéron Museum in central France.
The most infamous museum heist in recent memory took place in May 2010 at the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris, where an individual, dubbed Spider-Man, stole artworks by iconic artists like Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, valued at over €100 million. This incident raised alarm about security weaknesses, including faulty motion-detection alarms and inattentive guards, leading to subsequent scrutiny of safety protocols across cultural institutions.
As investigations into these brazen thefts continue, the value of historical and scientific artifacts remains a crucial topic of discussion, emphasizing the need for robust security measures to protect cultural heritage.
