France investigates high‑value jewelry thefts at Lalique and Louvre museums

Masked thieves broke into the Lalique Museum in Wingen‑sur‑Moder in eastern France early on 5 July, forcing a door and smashing six vitrines to steal 27 crystal jewellery pieces valued at around €4‑5 million. The museum, which houses over 650 exceptional works, was closed for several days while police review surveillance footage.

A separate robbery at the Louvre in Paris in October 2025 saw nine crown‑jewels worth roughly US$102 million taken in a seven‑minute daylight raid. Two suspects, Abdoulaye N. and Ghelamallah A., later told investigators they were promised €15‑25 thousand for the job and that a yet‑unidentified mentor had organized the heist. Both remain in pre‑trial detention, and the stolen items have not been recovered. The two incidents have heightened scrutiny of museum security across France.