Newly released video footage captures the moment when two thieves executed a slow-motion escape with the French crown jewels from the Louvre museum. The thieves, one in a high-visibility jacket and the other in a motorbike jacket, calmly descended using a cherry picker they had set up outside the museum right before their daring theft of nine priceless artifacts.
Despite the audacious nature of the heist, the thieves had ample time to complete their getaway and left the scene on motorcycles without being apprehended. Authorities have not made any arrests related to the £76 million robbery, drawing criticism from opposition politicians in France who have labeled it a “national humiliation.”
Although one item, Empress Eugenie’s crown, was recovered after being dropped by the thieves, the rest of the stolen treasures, including a tiara worn by Empress Eugenie, a sapphire diadem, and various pieces linked to 19th-century French queens, remain missing. Concerns have been raised that the stolen artifacts may have been dismantled for sale on the black market.
Following the incident, the Louvre reopened to the public with heightened security measures in place. The museum director, Laurence des Cars, admitted to a “terrible failure” and acknowledged the inadequacy of CCTV coverage around the museum.
In a separate development, a British art authenticator disclosed receiving inquiries about the stolen jewels from individuals offering large sums of money to authenticate French jewelry, raising suspicions that the stolen items may have changed hands multiple times already. The authenticator declined involvement, emphasizing the risks associated with dealing in stolen goods.
Curtis Dowling, the art authenticator, who featured on the CNBC show “Treasure Detectives,” shared insights into the potential trafficking of stolen artifacts and the challenges of authenticating such items amid criminal activities.