Thieves stole more than $4.5 million worth of jewelry from the Lalique Museum in Wingen-sur-Moder, northeastern France, in an early Sunday morning heist. The burglary occurred months after a significant jewel theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Approximately 20 pieces of jewelry were taken after the masked perpetrators entered the museum around 5:30 a.m. and smashed six display cases in the jewelry room, according to reports. The loss is estimated to be close to four million euros, exceeding $4.5 million. An alarm was triggered, but by the time a security company responded, a cleaning lady discovered the scene and alerted the police.
The museum, dedicated to the renowned French jeweler and glassmaker René Lalique, features over 650 works of jewelry, crystal, and perfume bottles. It opened in 2011 near the company's factory. The museum announced on its website that it would be closed for several days following the burglary. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage from the scene.