Crystal Charles
Thieves have carried out a daring night-time raid at the National Natural History Museum in Paris, stealing several native gold specimens valued at about €600,000, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
The break-in happened between Monday night and early Tuesday morning in the museum’s geology and mineralogy gallery. Investigators said the burglars used an angle grinder and a blow torch to gain access before escaping with the gold.
Officials noted that the museum’s alarm and surveillance systems had been weakened by a cyberattack in July, fuelling suspicion that the breach may have been exploited in the heist.
The Paris public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into “theft in an organised band.” Part of the museum has since been closed to visitors while security is reinforced.
While the raw value of the gold is estimated at €600,000, museum staff warn the scientific and cultural loss is immeasurable. “These specimens are irreplaceable records of natural history,” one official said.
The theft comes amid a string of incidents targeting French cultural institutions, including recent break-ins at regional museums. Experts say the case highlights growing threats not just to artworks and historical artefacts, but also to natural science collections.