A spectacular daylight robbery at the renowned Louvre museum in Paris has resulted in the theft of precious jewels valued at an astounding 88 million euros (£76m; $102m), according to a French public prosecutor citing the museum’s curator. The prosecutor highlighted that beyond the immense financial loss, the greater tragedy lies in the damage to France’s rich historical heritage, as items including crown jewels and pieces gifted by Napoleonic figures to their wives were taken.
The audacious theft, executed by thieves wielding power tools, took less than eight minutes to complete shortly after the museum opened its doors on Sunday morning. The swiftness of the operation, coupled with the fact that the culprits remain at large more than two days later, has led experts to believe the stolen jewelry may have already been broken down and dispersed.
The prosecutor expressed hope that by disclosing the estimated value of the stolen items, the perpetrators might reconsider destroying them. She emphasized that even if the thieves were to melt down the jewels, they would not recoup the full worth of these historically significant pieces.
Among the irreplaceable items pilfered are a diamond and emerald necklace that Emperor Napoleon presented to his wife, a tiara once worn by Empress Eugenie (wife of Napoleon III), and several exquisite pieces that belonged to Queen Marie-Amelie. In a twist of fate, a damaged crown that had been owned by Empress Eugenie was reportedly discovered along the thieves’ escape route, seemingly dropped in their haste.
The sophisticated operation involved four masked individuals who utilized a truck equipped with a mechanical lift to access the famous Galerie d’Apollon via a balcony near the River Seine. Two of the thieves then used a battery-powered disc cutter to breach a first-floor glass window, gaining entry before confronting and threatening museum guards, leading to the evacuation of the building.
Authorities suspect a highly organized professional team is responsible, given the speed and precision of the robbery. Security experts have previously told the BBC that investigators typically have a narrow window of one to two days to recover such stolen art and artifacts before they are considered lost forever. It is widely believed that the stolen jewels have likely been dismantled into precious metals and gems, smuggled out of the country, and sold for a fraction of their original value.