Thieves broke into the Lalique Museum in eastern France early Sunday morning, stealing around 20 pieces of jewelry valued at nearly €4 million. The incident is the latest in a series of museum thefts reported across the country over the past year.
According to French media reports, the burglars first attempted to enter through the museum’s main entrance at around 5:30 a.m., but were thwarted when the alarm system was triggered. They then gained access through an emergency exit, smashed six display cases in the jewelry gallery, and fled before security personnel arrived.
The first person to discover the burglary was a member of the museum’s maintenance staff, who immediately alerted the police. French prosecutors have since opened a formal investigation, while police are reviewing security camera footage and collecting forensic evidence from the scene. No arrests have been reported so far.
Located in the town of Wingen-sur-Moder, near the German border, the Lalique Museum houses an extensive collection of glass, crystal, and jewelry created by René Lalique, the renowned French artist and master jeweler. It is widely regarded as one of France’s leading museums dedicated to the decorative arts.
The theft comes amid a series of high-profile museum burglaries in France over the past year. On October 19, 2025, eight pieces of royal jewelry worth an estimated €88 million were reportedly stolen from the Louvre Museum. Earlier, on September 16, 2025, gold bars valued at approximately €600,000 were taken from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris.
The repeated incidents have intensified concerns over the effectiveness of security measures at France’s museums and cultural institutions, prompting renewed public and media debate over the protection of the country’s cultural heritage.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
