A group of thieves disguised themselves as construction workers to carry out a daring heist at the renowned Louvre gallery in Paris. The incident, which lasted merely seven minutes, occurred just as the museum was preparing to open to the public on Sunday morning. The robbers targeted valuable jewelry with historical significance, previously owned by Napoleon Bonaparte and his family.
French authorities have assigned 60 investigators to handle the high-profile case and have initiated a manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators. This marks the first robbery at the Louvre since 1998 when a painting by artist Corot was stolen.
According to France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, the thieves made off with nine precious pieces, two of which were dropped and subsequently recovered. The entire theft operation was executed within a tight seven-minute timeframe.
The criminals arrived at the museum’s Seine side on motorbikes, taking advantage of the museum’s pre-opening activities and the bustling tourist environment in Paris. The group strategically targeted a section of the museum undergoing renovations.
Utilizing angle grinders, the thieves breached a window to gain entry to the building. Two individuals entered the premises, while another kept watch outside the window, and the fourth member likely remained at ground level. Once inside, they used a chainsaw to access two glass cabinets containing the coveted jewels.
The gang, described as a “strike team” by Chief prosecutor Laure Beccuau, brandished angle grinders to intimidate museum guards during the heist. Although the alarms were operational, it remains unclear if they were triggered during the theft.
The stolen items included nine priceless jewels from the Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte collection, such as a tiara, sapphire necklace, and emerald and diamond necklace gifted to Empress Marie Louise. The French Ministry of Culture emphasized the cultural significance of the missing pieces.
As the thieves fled the scene, they accidentally dropped and damaged the Eugénie Crown, a historic Second Empire artifact adorned with diamonds and emeralds. The group, split between two motorbikes, escaped with eight of the stolen pieces towards the A6 motorway.
French authorities are actively pursuing the case, with a dedicated team working to locate the suspects. The robbery at the Louvre, the first since 1998, has sparked significant attention and concern within the art world and law enforcement circles.