A silver steward employed at the Élysée Palace in Paris has been arrested on suspicion of stealing silverware and porcelain worth up to €40,000 (£35,000). The alleged thefts come amid a wave of similar incidents at high-profile French institutions.
The head steward at the presidential residence alerted authorities to the missing items, some of which are deemed national heritage. Most came from the Sèvres Manufactory, a state-owned porcelain factory. Factory personnel recognised the items on auction websites such as Vinted, prompting an investigation.
Investigators arrested the steward and two alleged accomplices last week. They recovered about 100 objects from his home, vehicle and personal locker, including Sèvres porcelain, a René Lalique statuette, Baccarat champagne coupes and copper saucepans. The steward's Vinted account included a plate stamped 'French Air Force' and ashtrays marked 'Sèvres Manufactory'.
The trio appeared in court on 18 December and will be tried on 26 February. They were placed under judicial supervision, banned from contacting each other, prohibited from auction venues and barred from professional activities, the Associated Press reported. The recovered items were returned to the Élysée.
