Thieves made off with priceless Napoleonic jewels during a daring daylight robbery at Paris’s Louvre Museum on Sunday. Footage obtained by CNN shows a crane with an extended ladder, an angle grinder, a blowtorch and other equipment used to break into the world-famous museum. The Louvre remained closed on Monday as police hunted for the suspects.
How the heist unfolded
The robbery was carried out by four thieves who positioned a vehicle-mounted extendable ladder against the south side of the Louvre at around 9.30am, half an hour after the museum opened. Two of them used an angle grinder and other power tools to enter the Apollo gallery, home to France’s historic collection of crown jewels. The gang smashed glass displays and stole jewellery in a meticulously planned operation. Officials said the theft lasted just seven minutes.
What was taken and what was left
Eight pieces were stolen, including a necklace and earrings given by Napoleon I to Empress Marie-Louise, a diadem, brooch and decorative bow belonging to Napoleon III’s wife Empress Eugénie, and a sapphire set worn by Marie-Amelie, France’s last queen. The thieves dropped Empress Eugénie’s crown, which contains 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, and left the Regent diamond, valued at more than $60 million, untouched.
Investigation
The robbers fled on motorbikes after attempting to set fire to the vehicle they used, but museum staff stopped them. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the raid was likely carried out by an organised crime group. Security flaws at the Louvre have sparked criticism, with Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin admitting, “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, giving France a terrible image.”
Museum security
The heist has reignited debate over the vulnerability of French museums, which have been targeted in previous thefts, including the Natural History Museum and the city of Limoges. The Louvre has also experienced famous thefts in its history, including the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa by Vincenzo Peruggia. Authorities said security at the Louvre will be reinforced as part of a multimillion-euro overhaul.Forensic teams were later seen at the scene, and a team of 60 investigators is working to identify the suspects.
