Jewels classified as ‘national treasures’ snatched in French robbery

LYON, France – Armed robbers ripped off millions worth of jewels from a work by renowned Parisian goldsmith Joseph Chaumet and classified a national treasure in a brazen heist at a French museum.

Thieves riding motorcycles arrived at the Hieron museum in Paray-le-Monial, central France, around 4:00 p.m. (15:00 GMT) on Thursday.

Three entered the building and one stood guard outside, Mayor Jean-Marc Nesme said.

The group fired several shots before heading to the museum’s star exhibit, a three-meter (10-foot) work executed in 1904 that depicts the life of Christ in precious metals, jewels and ivory.

Known as “Via Vitae”, it is classified as a national treasure by France’s Ministry of Culture, with an estimated value of up to seven million euros ($7.3 million), Mayor Nesme said on Friday.

The intruders cut through the armored glass protecting the piece with a power tool before ripping gold and ivory figurines as well as emerald decorations from the piece.

The gigantic piece comprises 138 figures encrusted with diamonds and rubies set in various shades of marble and alabaster.

As they fled on their motorcycles, the gang swerved across the road to block two pursuing vehicles, police said.

“It is a great loss for Paray-le-Monial and for the national heritage,” said Mayor Nesme.

Staff and about 20 visitors present on the ground floor of the museum were “traumatized” by the violent intrusion, he added.

The Hieron Museum, one of France’s oldest for sacred art, has previously been targeted by thieves.

Two gold crowns were stolen in 2017, while there was another robbery attempt in 2022.

Thursday’s theft came a day after several valuables, including ornate socket boxes, were stolen from a museum in central Paris.

The broad daylight robbery saw the thieves break into a display case with axes and baseball bats in full view of visitors and staff at the Cognacq-Jay museum.