2,500-year-old gold necklace snatched from French museum in daylight heist

Thieves brazenly stole a 2,500-year-old gold necklace from a museum in eastern France on Friday, making off with the ancient artifact in broad daylight. The Celtic-era jewelry was housed at the Chatillon-sur-Seine museum in Burgundy.

Prosecutors confirmed that the thieves smashed the display case containing the necklace. Local mayor Jeremie Brigand noted that the museum had experienced two prior attempted burglaries recently. Despite enhanced security measures implemented after the previous attempts, the thieves were reportedly organized, swift, and determined enough to execute the heist.

"The individuals acted in broad daylight to steal the necklace despite the presence of the public, staff and a security detail," Brigand stated. Fortunately, no one was injured during the theft.

The stolen gold necklace, weighing approximately half a kilogram, was not only an ornament but also a symbol of power among the ancient Celts and Gauls. It is part of the renowned Vix treasure collection, discovered in 1953 in the nearby village of Vix. This incident occurs shortly after the Louvre in Paris reopened its Apollo Gallery, which had been targeted by thieves last October, resulting in the theft of eight items valued at around $100 million.

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The individuals acted in broad daylight to steal the necklace despite the presence of the public, staff and a security detail.