Burglary at the Lalique Museum in France
Thieves stole jewelry from the Lalique glass museum in Alsace, France, early Sunday morning, worth several million euros.
Around twenty pieces of jewelry were stolen. While the total damage is still being assessed, it could reach several million euros—likely close to four million, according to a source close to the investigation.
Following the burglary, the museum will be closed for the next few days, the museum announced on social media.
Several individuals broke down a door and smashed six display cases containing jewelry, another source close to the investigation stated and specified that because the stolen items were crystal jewelry without precious stones, they cannot be melted down for value.
"An alarm was triggered, but by the time the security company verified the break-in, a cleaning lady had already arrived at the scene and called the police," the initial source said.
The Lalique Museum opened in 2011 near the company's factory, which was established in 1921 on the Alsatian side of the Vosges. According to its website, the 900-square-meter exhibition space showcases "more than 650 exceptional works" tracing the legacy of René Lalique and his successors. The collection provides "a wide panorama of creations, from Art Nouveau jewelry to Art Deco glass and current crystal."