In a meticulously planned robbery on Sunday, thieves stole eight priceless pieces of royal jewelry from the Apollo Gallery at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The heist, which lasted just four to seven minutes, was executed with precision and has raised serious concerns about the security of France’s cultural institutions.
At approximately 9:30 a.m, four masked individuals dressed in yellow and orange high-visibility vests, resembling construction workers, accessed the museum’s second-floor balcony using a mechanized lift.
They then used a battery-powered disc cutter to break through a glass window, triggering security alarms. Once inside, the thieves smashed two display cases and made off with eight items, including a necklace once gifted by Napoleon to his wife, Marie Louise, and a sapphire set worn by Napoleon’s stepdaughter, Hortense.
The entire operation was captured on CCTV, showing one of the suspects using a cutter to slice through a glass display case while visitors walked by casually. A viral video of the incident has circulated widely, highlighting the audacity of the crime.
The thieves fled the scene on motorbikes, leaving behind their equipment. One of the stolen items, a crown formerly owned by Empress Eugénie, was later recovered near the museum.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the theft, describing it as an attack on the nation’s heritage.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called it a “major robbery,” and Culture Minister Rachida Dati emphasized the professionalism of the thieves. The Louvre was closed for the day, and authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.
This robbery is the latest in a series of high-profile art thefts in France and has prompted calls for enhanced security measures at cultural institutions. The Louvre Museum, already under strain due to infrastructural issues and overcrowding, is now facing renewed scrutiny over its security protocols.
The stolen jewels, with their historical and cultural significance, represent an immeasurable loss.
Authorities are analyzing security footage and possible DNA evidence found at the scene as they work to identify the perpetrators. The investigation continues, with officials pledging to recover the stolen items and bring those responsible to justice.
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