A quick and profitable heist. A treasure of jewelry estimated at several million euros was stolen Thursday from a sacred art museum in Paray-le-Monial (Saône-et-Loire).
The robbers arrived on motorbikes around 4 p.m. at the Hieron museum. Three of them entered, wearing helmets, the establishment open to the public, the fourth keeping watch outside, said the mayor of the town Jean-Marc Nesme.
After firing shots, they headed toward the museum's centerpiece, “Via Vitae” (1904) by Parisian goldsmith Joseph Chaumet, which recounts the life of Jesus. Classified as a national treasure by the Ministry of Culture, it is estimated at between 5 and 7 million euros, according to the mayor.
They stole its gold and ivory statuettes, as well as emerald decorations, after sawing with a chainsaw the armored windows which protected the nearly three meter high work. They also sawed off part of its marble base.
The robbers fled on motorbikes, throwing nails on the road, thus neutralizing two gendarmerie vehicles which were on their heels, a sign that the operation was prepared, the gendarmerie said.
“Traumatized” staff
“It is a great loss for Paray-le-Monial and for the national heritage,” lamented Jean-Marc Nesme, regretting that this treasure had been “ransacked”.
Around twenty visitors were present on the ground floor of the museum at the time of the robbery, as well as its staff, now “traumatized”, relates the mayor. They managed to escape and some took refuge in a neighboring house.
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The Musée du Hieron is one of the oldest French sacred art museums. He was already the victim of a burglary in 2017, where two Romay crowns from goldsmith Paul Brunet were stolen, as well as an attempted burglary in September 2022.
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