French “national treasures” stolen by the Limoges Museum

Two Chinese discs and a jar that were considered “national treasures” were stolen overnight by the Adrien Dubouché National Museum in the central French city of Limoges. The museum, which has a rich collection of porcelain, suffered losses of several millions of euros.

Three porcelain artworks were stolen during a break at the Limoges Adrien Dubouché Museum in the early hours of the day, the Foundation confirmed. According to an initial estimate provided to the police, the missing pieces are valued at around € 9.5 million.

The burglary took place at about 3:15 am, when the invaders were forced to enter a window, activating the museum’s alarm system. A source close to the research, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the thieves quickly removed the works before leaving the stage.

The suspects entered the historic gallery, where they took out with “two special Chinese porcelain dishes, dating from the 14th and 15th centuries” and an 18th -century Chinese jar, all defined as “national treasures”, the museum said.

Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the “worsening theft of cultural property exposed to a French museum committed in a group and with damage to property”.

Security guards sounded the alarm with police quickly reaching the stage, but the suspects had already left, said prosecutor Limoges Emilie Abrantes.

“The security system has worked, but it may have to be reviewed,” city mayor Emile Roger Lombertie told reporters. “All the great museums of the world had stolen objects at one time or another,” Lombertie added before floating a theory behind the theft.

“It is likely that collectors give orders to steal these objects and turn to high -level criminals,” he said.

The museum has about 18,000 projects, including the largest Porcelain Public Collection Limoges, according to its website.

The next day, jewelry worth several millions of euros were taken in armed robbery at the Hieron Museum in Eastern France.