Chinese Woman Arrested in $1 Million Paris Museum Theft

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Paris is once again at the center of an art-world scandal. French prosecutors confirmed Tuesday that a 24-year-old Chinese woman has been arrested and charged in connection with the audacious theft of gold artifacts worth more than $1 million from the Natural History Museum — a crime described as the work of an “extremely professional team.”

The daring break-in occurred in the early hours of September 16, barely a month before a separate, equally brazen daylight jewel heist at the Louvre Museum shocked the nation. The suspect was detained in Barcelona on September 30, allegedly while attempting to sell off nearly one kilogram of melted gold. She was extradited to France on October 13, where she now faces charges of theft and criminal conspiracy, and has been placed in provisional detention.

Investigations revealed that she fled France immediately after the heist, reportedly preparing to return to China when she was caught. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the museum’s curator discovered the theft after a cleaner found traces of debris — the first sign of a meticulously executed operation.

Among the stolen treasures were 18th-century Bolivian nuggets, a 19th-century Ural gift from Tsar Nicholas I of Russia, and rare California gold from the era of the gold rush. A five-kilogram Australian nugget discovered in 1990 was also taken. In total, nearly six kilograms of native gold — a naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver — vanished overnight, with damages estimated at €1.5 million ($1.7 million). Experts say the true historical and scientific loss is “beyond price.”

Forensic teams found two doors sliced open with an industrial grinder, while the display case was cut through using a blowtorch. Nearby, police recovered tools including saws, gas cylinders, and a screwdriver. Security footage revealed a lone figure entering the museum shortly after 1 a.m. and leaving three hours later — a calculated operation lasting just long enough to evade detection.

As investigators continue to trace the suspect’s network and search for possible accomplices, authorities are also grappling with a disturbing trend. Just weeks after the Natural History Museum theft, the Louvre fell victim to an equally stunning robbery in broad daylight, where thieves made off with priceless royal jewels.