Bangkok: – The government will closely monitor the French investigation on the museum heist near Paris, said Culture Minister VeeraRojpojanarat, noting that one of the 15 stolen items is the replica of the Great Crown of Victory.

King Mongkut sent the crown replica as a gift to French Emperor Napolean III.

Veera said he reported to the Cabinet about the Sunday’s robbery at the Chinese Museum at Fontainebleau Castle.

The prime minister has acknowledged the report and wanted to be kept informed about the investigation on the case, he said.

The minister said the crown replica was decorated with gemstones, diamond, emerald and ruby.

He clarified that the stolen object was the replica and that the Great Crown of Victory, part of the Royal Regalia and Royal Utensils, is being kept in the Royal Palace.

Fine Arts Department director general BorvornvateRungrujee said he found the robbery “unbelievable”. The incident happened like a movie, he said.

He said the crown replica and other stolen items from the museum were well documented antiques which could never be sold in the open market.

He voiced suspicion that the robbery might be carried out under a contract from collectors who wanted the objects for private viewing.

To take the French heist as lesson, he said he has ordered security checks at Thailand’s 44 museums.

The checks would focus on ensuring the departure of all visitors after closing time, he said. The lapse of security to keep tap of visitors is often attributed to the museum robbery.

OK General, time for you to get Inspector Clouseau on board.

Will they offer the French the expertise of the BIB ?

I am sure the BIB will have some suspects in less than 48 hrs. How many Burmese are living in Paris?

The BIB make Clouseau look like Sherlock Holmes. And who cares? It's just a copy anyway.

Now I am confused. This hat and other artifacts are quite expensive. Was yesterdays press release by Forbes a list of the usual suspected collectors?

I do admire the Thais.....they act swiftly about their stolen artifacts.

Hope the Greeks learn from them and do something about our stolen Parhenon marbles.

At least we know where they are..............................

It is a relieve to know that the French are monitored closely, I was getting worried.

so they are worried some copy has been stolen ?

worth all the effort ?

'Fine Arts Department director general BorvornvateRungrujee ... voiced suspicion that the robbery might be carried out under a contract from collectors who wanted the objects for private viewing.' I should imagine that to be a foregone conclusion.

'The lapse of security to keep tap of visitors is often attributed to the museum robbery.' What? So, the museum robbery - whichever one - is responsible for security lapses and failure to 'tap' visitors?

so they are worried some copy has been stolen ?

worth all the effort ?

It's an old copy, made from gold and gems, not tin and glass...

Is this linked to the blue diamond? Maybe the Saudis are going around the world robbing Thai artefacts?

"he said he has ordered security checks at Thailand’s 44 museums....The checks would focus on ensuring the departure of all visitors after closing time"

Maybe the checks should first confirm the authenticity of the artworks first.

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I do admire the Thais.....they act swiftly about their stolen artifacts.

Hope the Greeks learn from them and do something about our stolen Parhenon marbles.

At least we know where they are..............................

The artifact was a GIFT to the French and did not remain a possession of Thailand. So the Thais are then acting swiftly to involve themselves in a foreign nation's domestic problem.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I do admire the Thais.....they act swiftly about their stolen artifacts.

Hope the Greeks learn from them and do something about our stolen Parhenon marbles.

At least we know where they are..............................

The artifact was a GIFT to the French and did not remain a possession of Thailand. So the Thais are then acting swiftly to involve themselves in a foreign nation's domestic problem.

They are not involving themselves in a foreign nations problems. Rather the fact that is was a gift from Thailand and what the original means to Thailand brought home the risk that Thai artefacts are at - so they ordered an assessment of the security in Thailand.

He said the crown replica and other stolen items from the museum were well documented antiques which could never be sold in the open market.

Guess what...the rich in South East Asia and China are the highest bidders for "could never be sold" stuff

Thailand and has the most skilled and proffessional investigators in the world so who better to investigate. Inspector Somchia will DNA every single one of those pesky Burmese in France and has the offenders in custody within the hour. I believe they already have the arrest warrants for the unidentified offenders.

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I do admire the Thais.....they act swiftly about their stolen artifacts.

Hope the Greeks learn from them and do something about our stolen Parhenon marbles.

At least we know where they are..............................

The artifact was a GIFT to the French and did not remain a possession of Thailand. So the Thais are then acting swiftly to involve themselves in a foreign nation's domestic problem.

It was a pirated copy

And?

What's he gonna do?

The 6 items stolen, things like tableware etc were gifts and not originals. They belonged to France so what has it got to do with Thai authorities?

If it's a "replica' why do they care. The French should just forget about this piece. Wow, the Thais are impressive with their relentless monitoring of a replica. Imagine if a genuine artifact were stolen. Whatever happened to that diamond stolen from the Saudis by the Thai staff. The hush hush case including the murder of a Saudi?

I do admire the Thais.....they act swiftly about their stolen artifacts.

Hope the Greeks learn from them and do something about our stolen Parhenon marbles.

At least we know where they are..............................

I actually would admire them, if they would act swiftly and correctly on the many deaths in Thailand, especially those, involving foreigners.

Like girls from Laos, couples from Britain...