Paris Natural History Museum Hit By $700,000 Gold Theft

Burglars stole $700,000 worth of gold specimens from Paris’ Natural History Museum early Tuesday, using an angle grinder and blow torch to break in. The thieves targeted native gold specimens, which are naturally-occurring alloys containing gold and silver. Museum director Emmanuel Skoulios said “We are dealing with an extremely professional team, perfectly aware of where they needed to go, and with professional equipment.” A police source told Le Parisien that the museum’s alarm and surveillance systems were disabled by a July cyberattack, giving criminals an opening. The museum noted the stolen pieces hold “immeasurable heritage value” beyond their raw gold price. This robbery continues a pattern targeting French cultural institutions. Earlier this month, thieves stole Chinese porcelain worth over $7 million from the Adrien Dubouché National Museum. (Story URL)