France’s justice minister has confessed that security “failed” in preventing a shocking jewellery heist at the Louvre Museum, stating that the incident has cast a “terrible image” on the nation. The audacious daylight robbery saw thieves use power tools and a mechanical lift to break into the world-renowned museum on Sunday, making off with eight items of immense value.
There are growing fears that the priceless stolen items, which include a diamond and emerald necklace gifted by Emperor Napoleon to his wife, Empress Marie Louise, might be broken down and smuggled out of the country if the culprits are not apprehended swiftly. Security measures at France’s cultural institutions have been immediately heightened following the incident, according to government advisors.
The Louvre announced it would remain closed on Monday to facilitate ongoing investigations. Reports from French media suggest that a preliminary assessment by the Court of Auditors, due for publication in November, indicates that surveillance cameras are absent in a third of the rooms within the affected wing of the museum.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin told France Inter radio, “What is certain is that we have failed, since people were able to park a furniture hoist in the middle of Paris, get people up it in several minutes to grab priceless jewels.” He expressed confidence that the police would eventually apprehend the thieves.
However, Chris Marinello, CEO of Art Recovery International, cautioned that if the thieves aren’t caught within the next 24-48 hours, the stolen jewellery will likely be “long gone.” He explained that items like crowns and diadems, which were among the stolen pieces, can be easily dismantled, their precious metals melted down, stones recut, and evidence of the crime concealed, making their recovery difficult.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez acknowledged a significant vulnerability in the country’s museum security and confirmed that a decision was made on Monday to enhance security at cultural sites nationwide. President Emmanuel Macron condemned the robbery as an “attack on a heritage that we cherish because it is our history.” Senator Nathalie Goulet echoed the sentiment, calling the event “very painful” and expressing bafflement at how easily the heist was executed, suggesting a possible deactivation of the gallery’s recently repaired alarm system.
The robbery occurred between 09:30 and 09:40 on Sunday morning, shortly after the museum opened. Four masked individuals used a truck with a mechanical lift to access a balcony near the River Seine, entering the Gallery of Apollo. After threatening guards and causing an evacuation, they smashed display cases and stole the jewels. The entire operation reportedly lasted only about eight minutes. The thieves’ attempt to set fire to their vehicle outside the museum was thwarted by a staff member.