The renowned Lalique Museum, located in Wingen-sur-Moder in the Bas-Rhin region of northeastern France, has been targeted in a major burglary.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, citing local media reports, the incident occurred between 05:00 and 06:00 local time. A group of masked individuals breached the museum's entrance and shattered six display cases to gain access to the collection.
Reports indicate that the thieves stole jewelry and art pieces valued at millions of euros. The museum is famous for housing approximately 650 works by the celebrated French glassmaker and jeweler René Lalique, whose creations are highly prized globally for their Art Nouveau and Art Deco significance.
Christian Dorschner, the mayor of Wingen-sur-Moder, confirmed the incident, describing the stolen items as irreplaceable cultural artifacts. An official investigation has been launched to identify the perpetrators. Despite the museum's security measures, including alarm systems that were reportedly active during the break-in, the suspects managed to escape with the valuables.
This incident adds to a growing trend of museum thefts across France, raising concerns regarding the security of cultural institutions. Similar high-profile heists involving valuable historical and artistic artifacts have been recorded in Paris and other major French cities in recent years, prompting calls for enhanced protection protocols for national heritage sites.
