Audacious Heist at Louvre: Historic Crown Jewels Stolen in Broad Daylight
In a daring and meticulously planned operation, four thieves managed to steal France’s crown jewels from the world-renowned Louvre Museum. The heist, which took place in broad daylight, has left authorities in a race against time to recover the priceless artifacts before they are broken down and sold on the black market.
The robbery occurred on a Sunday morning, with the culprits arriving at the museum equipped with power tools and a truck fitted with a crane-lift. They targeted the Apollo Gallery, making off with jewels valued at approximately €88 million ($102 million), according to The Associated Press. Beyond their monetary worth, these jewels hold immense historical significance.
The thieves executed their plan around 9:30 a.m., using angle grinders to breach a window on the south side of the gallery. Once inside, they swiftly gathered the jewels and made their escape on scooters, leaving tourists and staff stunned.
Among the stolen items were a tiara worn by both Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense, in addition to a sapphire jewelry set, including a necklace and earrings. Also taken was an emerald necklace and earrings from Empress Marie-Louise of Austria, as noted on the Louvre Museum’s official website.
In a subsequent discovery, the tiara of Empress Eugénie was found damaged near the Louvre, reported by the Catholic News Agency.
The French authorities have launched an intense investigation involving 100 investigators to track down the perpetrators and retrieve the jewels. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau expressed hope that the thieves would reconsider dismantling the jewels for sale. “The wrongdoers who took these gems won’t earn 88 million euros if they had the very bad idea of disassembling these jewels,” Beccuau remarked.
CBS News reported that the authorities have recovered the crane lift used during the heist, along with various tools and equipment, indicating an initial plan to destroy the evidence. Additionally, significant DNA evidence was left behind, increasing hopes for capturing the suspects.
Alain Bauer, a criminology expert, remains optimistic about apprehending the thieves. He stated, “We will catch them,” although he expressed skepticism about recovering the jewels intact, especially if the thieves are amateurs or part of a larger scheme.
This high-profile theft has sparked concerns over security at the Louvre, with a Radio France report revealing that a significant portion of the Denon Wing lacks security camera coverage. France’s Justice Minister, Gerald Darmanin, acknowledged the security lapse, stating, “I know that we cannot secure totally all the sites. But what was sure was that we failed, because someone was capable of putting in a crane truck, in the open, in the streets of Paris, to have people walk up for a couple of minutes and take priceless jewels and give France a deplorable image.”
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
