On Sunday night, as the museum prepared for its reopening, staff discovered a smashed display case containing the coins, alerting local authorities. The expertise involved in selecting the stolen coins was noted by officials as they investigated the robbery.
This incident adds to a concerning trend of heists targeting France's cultural institutions. In recent weeks, several significant thefts have raised alarm, casting shadows over the security measures that protect invaluable artwork and artifacts.
A month prior, criminals broke into the Natural History Museum in Paris and carried away six gold nuggets worth €1.5 million. Additionally, two high-value Chinese porcelain dishes were stolen from the national porcelain museum in Limoges, amounting to €6.55 million—all still missing without arrests made.
The shocking daylight robbery at the Louvre, where €88 million worth of historic jewels were taken, has further intensified scrutiny over security protocols. Current museum directors and officials are calling for a review of existing security measures after it was revealed that a significant portion of the Louvre's CCTV system was ineffective.
As these events unfold, experts fear that more such incidents could occur across the country, indicating the potential presence of organized groups targeting heritage sites. With rising concerns about the protection of national treasures, immediate responses to upgrade security in these institutions are being demanded.
