Thieves steal jewels in four-minute heist at Louvre
A group of professional thieves carried out a rapid, four-minute heist at the Louvre museum in Paris, stealing jewels described as having “inestimable” and priceless heritage value. The robbery occurred on a Sunday morning while the museum was open to visitors. The thieves used a mechanized lift to access upper-floor windows, broke in, and stole nine Napoleonic jewels, including a necklace, a brooch, and a tiara, before fleeing on scooters. no injuries were reported.French authorities are investigating,compiling a detailed list of stolen items,and assessing the damage. A piece of jewelry, identified as the broken emerald-set imperial crown of Empress Eugenie, was found near the museum after the escape.The Louvre remains closed during the investigation. The incident echoes a previous famous theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911.
Thieves steal jewels of ‘inestimable value’ in four-minute heist at Louvre
A group of professional thieves stole jewels of “inestimable value” in a coordinated four-minute heist at the Louvre in Paris, French officials said on Sunday as the art museum shut down for the day.
Police were investigating the robbery and how it took place on Sunday morning. Preliminary details revealed the thieves used a mechanised lift to access upstairs windows for entry, per French newspaper Le Parisien. After breaking the windows, the culprits bagged nine Napoleonic jewels left on display and fled on scooters.
Damage from the robbery is currently being assessed as police investigate the matter.
“The investigation has begun, and a detailed list of the stolen items is being compiled,” the French Interior Ministry said in a statement. “Beyond their market value, these items have priceless heritage and historical value.”
A necklace, brooch, and tiara were among the stolen items, according to reports.
At least four thieves orchestrated the daytime heist. There were no injuries reported.
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said the thieves “acted professionally, without any violence and without any panic.” Initial reports said the robbery lasted seven minutes, but Dati described it as a “four-minute operation.”
The robbery unfolded as the Louvre was open to visitors around 9:30 a.m. Sunday local time. The museum is closed as authorities investigate.
Investigators later found a piece of jewelry near the museum after it was apparently dropped during the criminals’ escape, according to Dati. The item was identified as the emerald-set imperial crown of Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugenie, and was found broken, according to reports.
The Louvre is home to the Mona Lisa, the famous oil painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The artwork was once stolen by a former Louvre employee in 1911 and was recovered two years later when the thief tried to sell it. Because of its international coverage at the time, the incident helped make the Mona Lisa the world’s most famous painting.
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