Daring Heist at Paris’ Louvre: Thieves Steal Priceless French Crown Jewels

Reuters

Police officers work next to a crane and a window believed to have been used in what the French Interior Ministry said was a robbery at the Louvre museum during which jewellery was stolen, in Paris.

A highly organised gang broke into Paris’ Louvre Museum on Sunday morning, using a crane to smash an upstairs window before stealing priceless jewellery from the gallery housing the French crown jewels, the government confirmed. The robbers escaped on motorbikes following the four-minute heist.

The theft, described as “very professional” by France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati, took place around 9:30 a.m. local time, shortly after the museum had opened to the public. Dati told TF1 television that the perpetrators “entered calmly, smashed the display cases, took their loot, and left – no violence, very professional.”

One item of jewellery, reportedly the crown of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, was found broken outside the museum, apparently dropped during the thieves’ escape. Experts estimate its value at several tens of millions of euros.

“This act is incomprehensible,” said Alexandre Giquello, President of the Drouot auction house. “The jewels are unsellable and part of France’s history. The perpetrators have placed themselves in a very precarious position.”

France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that three or four individuals were involved, entering through a window using a crane attached to a truck. “They targeted several display cases and stole jewels of priceless historical value,” he said, adding that the gang appeared to have prepared extensively and may have committed similar thefts in the past.

A specialist police unit renowned for solving high-profile robberies has been assigned to lead the investigation. The Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum, closed for the day for “exceptional reasons.”

The heist has reignited debate over security at France’s premier cultural institution, which hosts over eight million visitors annually. 

The Louvre has long warned of insufficient investment in maintenance and security. Dati acknowledged that “major museums must adapt to new forms of organised crime,” noting that the Louvre’s management had already requested a security audit two years ago.

Source: Reuters



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