British News Agency

Investigators arrested the valet and two alleged accomplices last week. They are accused of stealing items from the French president’s official Paris residence and attempting to sell them on online auction platforms such as Vinted.

The palace’s head valet alerted authorities to the missing items, some of which are considered part of the national heritage. The total value of the stolen goods is estimated at up to €40,000.

Most of the items came from the famous Sèvres porcelain factory in Paris, which has belonged to the French state since 1759. After factory staff recognized some of the missing pieces on auction websites, investigators began questioning Élysée employees.

The alleged thefts are an unwelcome repeat of a series of robberies at the Louvre and other French museums in recent months, raising concerns over lax security at the country’s cultural institutions.

The valet’s duties include storing and protecting tableware and similar items used by presidents, visiting royalty, and other dignitaries. Prosecutors said the inventory records kept by the arrested valet suggested he was planning future thefts.

According to investigators, the man’s Vinted account included a plate stamped “French Air Force” and ashtrays marked “Sèvres Factory,” items that are typically not available to the public.