French prosecutors have revealed that a member of staff at the Élysée Palace, the official residence of the French President, has been arrested for the alleged theft of valuable tableware. The items, with an estimated value of up to €40,000 (approximately £35,000), were reportedly listed for sale on online auction platforms including Vinted.
Arrests and Alleged Theft from Presidential Residence
Investigators last week arrested a silver steward employed at the Paris palace, along with two alleged accomplices. The trio stands accused of removing silverware and porcelain from the historic building and attempting to sell them online. The thefts were uncovered after the palace's head steward alerted authorities to missing objects, some of which are classified as items of national heritage.
Most of the stolen pieces originated from the Sèvres Manufactory, the renowned state-owned porcelain factory. The investigation gained traction when staff from the manufactory itself recognised unique pieces appearing on auction websites, prompting questions to be directed at Élysée personnel.
Recovered Items and a Pattern of Institutional Thefts
During searches, around 100 objects were recovered from the steward's home, vehicle, and personal locker. The haul included Sèvres porcelain, a statuette by René Lalique, Baccarat champagne coupes, and copper saucepans. Prosecutors noted that inventory records kept by the arrested steward suggested he was planning further thefts. His Vinted account reportedly featured a plate stamped "French Air Force" and ashtrays marked "Sèvres Manufactory"—items not available to the public.
This incident is part of a worrying trend of thefts from prestigious French institutions. In recent months, several high-profile museums have been targeted:
- The Louvre is still missing crown jewels worth an estimated €88 million after an October raid.
- Paris's Natural History Museum lost six gold nuggets worth around €1.5 million in September.
- A porcelain museum in Limoges was robbed of Chinese porcelain valued at approximately €6.55 million.
- The Maison des Lumières in Langres had around 2,000 gold and silver coins stolen in October.
Legal Proceedings and Role of the Accused
The arrested steward, whose role involved storing and maintaining tableware for presidents, visiting royalty, and dignitaries, appeared in court with his alleged accomplices on 18 December. They are scheduled to stand trial on 26 February. According to the Associated Press, all three have been placed under judicial supervision, banned from contacting each other, prohibited from auction venues, and barred from their professional activities.
Fortunately, the items stolen from the Élysée have been returned. This outcome contrasts sharply with the unresolved Louvre heist, for which four suspects have been arrested. The series of thefts has raised significant concerns about security measures at France's most important cultural and governmental institutions.
