The thieves broke a window to enter the Adrien Dubouche National Museum in the central French city of Limoges, triggering the alarm system early Tuesday morning. They targeted the historical exhibition room, stealing "two exceptionally important porcelain plates, dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, and an 18th-century porcelain vase, all of Chinese origin."
"All three items are classified as national treasures," the museum stated.
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The facade of the Adrien Dubouche National Museum in Limoges, central France, on 4/9. Photo: AFP |
The facade of the Adrien Dubouche National Museum in Limoges, central France, on 4/9. Photo: AFP
Prosecutor Emilie Abrantes said the security guard immediately alerted the police when the alarm sounded, but the thieves escaped before officers arrived. Police initially estimated the total value of the stolen items at $11 million.
"The security system worked, but it may need to be reviewed. All major museums in the world have experienced theft. It's likely collectors are behind this theft," said Mayor Emile Roger Lombertie.
According to the museum's website, it houses approximately 18,000 works.
French museums experienced two major thefts in November 2024. The first occurred at the Cognacq-Jay Museum in Paris, where four individuals used axes and sticks to smash a display case in broad daylight, in front of visitors, before stealing a snuffbox and other valuable artifacts.
A day later, millions of dollars' worth of jewelry was stolen from the Hieron museum in eastern France by armed robbers.
Huyen Le (AFP)
