In brief
Another museum robbery in France has led to the theft of around 2,000 coins valued at €90,000 from the Maison des Lumières, just hours after the daring theft at the Louvre. The latest crime adds to worries regarding security in France's cultural institutions, prompting discussions about better protective measures.
Around 2,000 gold and silver coins, valued at approximately €90,000 (£78,000; $104,000), were stolen during a raid at the Maison des Lumières in Landres, northeastern France, shortly after a theft involving French crown jewels at the Louvre. The incident occurred on Sunday night, with museum workers discovering a smashed display case when they opened the museum on Tuesday.
This unfortunate event is part of a concerning trend of heists at cultural institutions in France. The stolen coins, dating from between 1790 and 1840, were part of a private collection revealed during renovation work at the museum in 2011.
In recent weeks, other notable thefts have included six gold nuggets from Paris's Natural History Museum, estimated to be worth around €1.5 million, and items from the national porcelain museum valued at €6.55 million.
The Louvre's jewel heist, which saw €88 million worth of historical jewelry stolen, has raised alarm about security measures in place at museums, leading to calls for stricter safeguards against such crimes.
The museum director Geoffrey Salomon highlighted the expertise involved in selecting the stolen coins, triggering discussions on the security protocols at cultural institutions, which many experts believe are lacking compared to those guarding high-value stores.
