Louvre Heist: €88M Stolen Jewelry Confirmed by Prosecutor

A significant robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris has resulted in the theft of jewelry valued at €88 million. The incident occurred during daylight hours, shortly after the museum opened its doors on a Sunday morning. According to a French public prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, the loss extends beyond monetary value, impacting France’s cultural heritage.

Louvre Heist Details

The stolen items include historical treasures associated with French royalty. Among the eight missing pieces are:

• A tiara worn by Empress Eugenie, the spouse of Napoleon III.
• A diamond and emerald necklace gifted by Emperor Napoleon to his wife.
• Jewelry previously owned by Queen Marie-Amelie.

This daring heist took less than eight minutes. Thieves used power tools and a modified truck to access the Galerie d’Apollon, positioning themselves via a balcony near the River Seine. Two culprits cut through a glass window with a battery-powered disc cutter, facilitating their entry.

Execution of the Heist

Inside the museum, the robbers threatened the guards and successfully evacuated the area. The incident triggered an immediate response, with a museum staff member intervening to prevent the thieves from setting their vehicle ablaze. The assailants were last seen fleeing the scene on scooters.

Aftermath and Response

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the robbery as an assault on the nation’s heritage. Following the incident, security protocols at cultural institutions across France are under review. Initial assessments revealed that one-third of the Louvre’s rooms lacked proper CCTV coverage, while the broader alarm system failed to activate during the heist. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged the breakdown in security measures, expressing concern over the museum’s compromised safety.

Authorities believe that they are pursuing a highly skilled group of criminals. Experts in art recovery share concerns that the stolen pieces may already be disassembled into precious metals and gems. If not recovered within the next few days, the items may be lost indefinitely, diminishing their historical significance.

Laure Beccuau hopes that revealing the jewelry’s estimated worth may deter the thieves from destroying these irreplaceable artifacts. The cultural implications of this theft resonate deeply, prompting calls for enhanced security to protect France’s invaluable heritage.