In another high-profile theft, approximately 2,000 gold and silver coins valued at around 90,000 euros (£78,000; $104,000) were stolen from a museum in Landres, northeastern France. This incident occurred on the same night that the Louvre experienced a notorious heist involving crown jewels.
Officials reported that museum workers found a smashed display case upon opening the Maison des Lumières (House of Enlightenment) on Tuesday, raising the alarm. A local authority statement noted that the coins were taken with considerable skill.
This robbery underscores a worrying trend of thefts at cultural institutions across France. The situation has drawn particular scrutiny after a recent spate of similar crimes.
Previously, thieves had broken into Paris's Natural History Museum, making off with six gold nuggets worth around €1.5 million, and in September, items worth €6.55 million were stolen from the national porcelain museum in Limoges.
The brazen daylight robbery at the Louvre, where thieves impersonated workers to steal €88 million in jewelry, has heightened concerns about security at France's heritage sites. The Louvre's director criticized the museum's weak security, particularly after it emerged that a CCTV camera positioned at the exterior wall was not focused on the area where the thieves entered.
Authorities continue to grapple with how to prevent further thefts as art detectives suggest that organized gangs may be targeting multiple cultural sites, potentially leading to more incidents.
