A brazen daylight robbery struck the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday, as a gang of masked thieves made off with eight priceless pieces of jewelry — including imperial gems once owned by Napoleon’s wife and Empress Eugénie. The shocking incident, described as a major blow to France’s international image, exposed serious flaws in the museum’s security system, reports Baltimore Chronicle, citing BBC.
French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin condemned the failure of security measures, saying, “People were able to park a hoist truck in the center of Paris, climb it within minutes, seize invaluable jewels, and give France a terrible image.” He confirmed that a full investigation into the breach is underway.
The heist occurred between 9:30 and 9:40 a.m., shortly after the museum opened. Four masked men arrived in a truck equipped with a mechanical lift and gained access to the Gallery of Apollo through a balcony facing the Seine River. Two of the thieves cut through the window glass with a power saw, threatened security guards, smashed the display cases, and escaped on scooters — all within seven minutes.
Among the stolen items were a diamond and emerald necklace Napoleon gave to his wife, Empress Marie-Louise, and a gold tiara belonging to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. A sapphire-and-diamond necklace that once belonged to Marie-Amélie, France’s last queen, was also taken.
The Louvre announced it would remain closed on Monday for “exceptional reasons.” French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted there were “significant vulnerabilities” in museum security nationwide. A preliminary report by the Court of Auditors, expected in November, revealed that nearly one-third of the rooms in the Louvre’s affected wing had no surveillance cameras.
President Emmanuel Macron condemned the theft as “an attack on our cherished heritage and history.” French senator Nathalie Goulet told the BBC that the event was “deeply painful for France,” noting that the gallery’s alarm system had recently been broken and might have been intentionally deactivated.
Chris Marinello, CEO of Art Recovery International, warned that if the criminals are not apprehended within 24 to 48 hours, the jewels could be irretrievably lost. “They won’t keep them intact — they’ll melt down the metals, recut the stones, and erase any trace of their crime,” he said. Marinello emphasized that recovering the stolen artifacts intact would be nearly impossible, even if the perpetrators are caught.
Police suspect the robbery was carried out by a well-organized criminal group. According to investigators, the thieves attempted to set fire to their vehicle after the heist, but a museum staff member managed to stop them.
The robbery has ignited fierce debate across France over cultural security standards, as the nation reels from what many officials call one of the most audacious museum thefts in decades.
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