Thieves armed with power tools carried out a daring daylight robbery at the Louvre yesterday, swiftly snatching several of France’s irreplaceable crown jewels in a seven-minute heist. The culprits dropped a gem-encrusted crown while escaping, leading to its damaged recovery near the museum.
This high-profile theft, part of a series of recent museum robberies in France, prompted the closure of the Louvre, the renowned home of iconic artworks like the Mona Lisa and the world’s most frequented museum. Paris officials, led by chief prosecutor Laure Beccuau, are actively seeking a group of four thieves linked to the incident.
Amidst heightened security with soldiers patrolling the Louvre’s famous glass pyramid entrance, visitors were evacuated as onlookers were held back behind police cordons. Tourists like Talia Ocampo described the event as reminiscent of a Hollywood movie, a surreal experience that left a lasting impression due to the unprecedented museum theft.
The French culture ministry disclosed that eight precious jewelry pieces were stolen from the Gallerie Apollon within the Louvre, including historical items like the emerald-and-diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon to Empress Marie Louise and Empress Eugenie’s diadem. Beccuau mentioned that the thieves menaced museum guards with angle grinders to access the jewelry cases, triggering a comprehensive investigation involving a team of 60 detectives.
Reports indicate that the robbers utilized a powered extendable ladder, typically used for moving furniture, to breach the gilded gallery housing the crown jewels. The damaged 19th-century crown of Empress Eugenie, adorned with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, was discovered near the museum post-robbery.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez emphasized the priceless nature of the stolen items, which included pieces from Queen Marie Amelie and Queen Hortense’s sapphire collection, along with Marie Louise’s emerald earrings. The robbery occurred shortly after the Louvre’s morning opening, as witnesses observed the thieves arriving, using a scooter, angle grinders, and the furniture hoist to execute their swift heist.
The Louvre’s closure following the robbery aimed to preserve evidence for the ongoing investigation. Concerns were raised about potential dismantling of the stolen jewels for resale, as highlighted by the director of the Drouot auction house, fearing the items would be rendered unsellable in their current state.
With a history of art theft incidents in France, including recent museum break-ins, the Louvre’s vulnerability has come under scrutiny. The need for enhanced security measures was underscored following this brazen robbery, underscoring the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage housed within prestigious institutions like the Louvre.