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Stolen art found in Louvre loos
Panicky would-be thief dumped statuette worth €400,000 in waste bin after ripping it off its display stand, police say
A VALUABLE 17th-century bronze statuette was stolen from its display in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs on Saturday afternoon.
Fortunately, it was quickly found again - in the museum’s toilets.
The statuette of Samson and the Philistines by Giambologna is said to be worth between €300,000 and €400,000. The museum, within the Louvre, was immediately closed when a security officer reported the 5kg sculpture missing at 4.30pm.
Visitors were searched, but none of them had the expensive artwork, which was finally found dumped in a waste bin in the lavatories.
Police believe the would-be thief panicked shortly after taking the item and quickly dumped it. They also say the criminal was captured on surveillance cameras, but has not yet been arrested.
The museum reopened to visitors on Sunday, though the room in which the theft occurred remained closed as investigations continued.
