French 'national treasures' stolen from Limoges museum

Two Chinese trays and a vase considered “national treasures” were stolen overnight at the start of the month from the Adrien Dubouché National Museum in the central French city of Limoges. The museum, which has a rich collection of porcelain, suffered losses amounting to several million euros.

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

The burglary took place at around 3:15am, when the intruders forced entry by smashing a window, triggering the museum’s alarm system. A source close to the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the thieves swiftly removed the works before fleeing the scene.

The suspects entered the historical gallery where they made off with "two particularly important dishes of Chinese porcelain, dating from the 14th and 15th centuries" and an 18th-century Chinese vase, all designated as "national treasures", the museum said.

Prosecutors have opened an investigation into "aggravated theft of cultural property exhibited in a French museum, committed in a group and with damage to property".

Security guards sounded the alarm with police quickly arriving on scene but the suspects had already fled, said Limoges public prosecutor Emilie Abrantes.

"The security system worked, but it may need to be reviewed," the city's mayor, Emile Roger Lombertie, told reporters. "All the world's major museums have had items stolen at one time or another," Lombertie added before floating a theory behind the theft.

"It is likely that collectors are giving orders to steal these items and are turning to high-level criminals," he said.

The museum holds around 18,000 works including the largest public collection of Limoges porcelain, according to its website.

The next day, jewellery worth several million euros was taken in an armed robbery at the Hieron Museum in eastern France.