On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Paris’s National Natural History Museum reported a theft of gold samples valued at €600,000 (about N1.058 billion). Located in the 5th district, the museum is famous for its dinosaur skeletons and mineral collections.
Details of the Heist
The museum discovered the break-in Tuesday morning. Thieves used an angle grinder and blowtorch to access the riverside complex, a popular spot for locals and tourists.
The stolen gold specimens hold significant historical value beyond their market price.
Security Breach Exploited
A police source noted that a July cyberattack disabled the museum’s alarms and surveillance, likely aiding the thieves. The museum highlighted a troubling trend, with several cultural institutions targeted recently.
Broader Context of Museum Thefts
Other French museums have faced similar crimes. Earlier in September, the Adrien Dubouche Museum in Limoges lost porcelain treasures worth €6.5 million.
Last November, Paris’s Cognacq-Jay Museum saw a daylight robbery of 18th-century artworks, and a Saone-et-Loire museum lost jewelry worth millions.
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