A Chinese woman has been charged with stealing gold from the National Museum of Natural History in France, adding to a string of recent high-profile thefts from French cultural institutions. The incident occurred when a burglar used an angle grinder to cut through doors and steal gold from the mineralogy display at the museum.
Authorities are investigating the case as part of a broader pattern of security breaches at major French museums. Law enforcement officials have expressed concern over the increasing frequency of such incidents, which have raised questions about the security of cultural institutions in France. The stolen gold, which was part of the museum’s mineralogy collection, was reportedly valued at several million euros.
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, is currently in custody and is facing charges of theft and attempted burglary. Investigators are working to determine whether the theft is part of a larger criminal network or a solo operation. The museum has stated it is cooperating fully with the investigation and is taking steps to enhance its security measures to prevent future incidents.