• A 24-year-old Chinese woman is charged in connection with a $1.7 million gold theft from the Natural History Museum in Paris.
• The theft occurred on September 16, followed by a jewelry heist at the Louvre.
• The woman was arrested in Barcelona and extradited to France on October 13.
• Nearly 6kg of gold, including historic nuggets, was stolen from the museum.
• This incident raises concerns about the security of French cultural institutions amid a wave of break-ins.

A Chinese woman has been arrested and charged over the theft of gold from the Natural History Museum in Paris, part of a troubling trend of high-profile break-ins targeting French cultural institutions, according to Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and CBS News.

The theft took place on September 16, just over a month before a dramatic heist at the Louvre Museum. The arrested 24-year-old, identified as a member of an "extremely professional team," was captured in Barcelona on September 30 and later extradited to France on October 13, where she was charged with theft and criminal conspiracy, as reported by Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the suspect left France the same day as the theft and was attempting to sell approximately 1kg of melted gold pieces when arrested. The stolen gold was estimated to be worth over 1.5 million euros ($1.7 million), consisting of nuggets from Bolivia, Russia, California, and a notable 5kg nugget from Australia, highlighting the historical significance of the items. "The historical and scientific value is priceless," emphasized Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, according to Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and CBS News.

Authorities uncovered the crime by discovering that two museum doors had been cut, and the display case had been breached using a blowtorch. Additionally, tools used in the theft, including a grinder and saws, were found at the scene. Surveillance footage captured a lone intruder entering shortly after 1:00 am and exiting approximately three hours later, according to Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and CBS News.

This incident further intensifies the debate regarding the security measures in place at museums across France, especially following a day-light robbery at the Louvre that took place shortly after this theft. Security has become a pressing concern amid a series of museum heists, raising questions about the adequacy of protection for valuable cultural artifacts, as noted by Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and CBS News.