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Dramatic video shows the moment thieves in the Louvre broke the frames protecting the priceless gems during a robbery on Sunday,
A hooded man wearing a high-visibility jacket is seen Interfering with a large display case Camera-phone footage at a famous art museum.
Two thieves were calling themselves laborers while two others had come on a scooter. Carry out daring raids in minutesaccording to parisian,
The robbery took place in broad daylight at approximately 0930 local time. [GMT 0730]with visitors already inside, in what Culture Minister Rachida Dati described as a professional “four-minute operation”.
Using power tools, the thieves used a basket lift to climb to the front of the gallery, before cutting out a window with a disc cutter, breaking out two display cases and fleeing on a motorcycle with the Napoleonic jewels, according to authorities.
A witness named Sameer told TF1 News that he saw two people “climbing, breaking the window and breaking in”. He said it took 30 seconds.
The Culture Ministry said the items stolen from the Apollon Gallery included a tiara and a brooch that belonged to Queen Eugenie’s wife. napoleon Third; an emerald necklace and a pair of emerald earrings owned by Empress Marie Louise, Napoleon I’s second wife; a tiara, necklace and earring belonging to Queen Marie-Emilie and Queen Hortense; and a brooch known as the “relic brooch”.
Two objects were found near the scene, including Empress Eugenie’s crown, which had apparently been dropped during the escape. The crown found broken was decorated with golden eagles and covered with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds.
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin acknowledged security failures on Monday. “One might wonder about the fact that, for example, the windows were not secured, about the fact that a basket lift was on a public road,” he said on France Inter radio. “Happen [previously] Being the Home Minister, I know that we cannot completely secure all the places, but it is certain that we have failed.”
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the raid happened “very, very quickly” and was over within minutes.
The Culture Ministry said the group had tried to set fire to their vehicle outside the museum, but were stopped by a staff member.
No one was injured in the robbery, but guards were threatened.
Paris The prosecutor’s office said it had launched an investigation, and the value of the stolen items was still being assessed.
Recovery may prove difficult. “It is unlikely that these jewels will ever be seen again,” said Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds.
“Professional crews often break up and recut large, recognizable stones to avoid detection, effectively erasing their origin.”
Officials said investigators are reviewing CCTV from the Denon wing and the riverfront, inspecting the basket lift used to access the galleries and interviewing staff who were on site when the museum opened.
Surprisingly, the robbery took place just 800 meters away from the Paris police headquarters.
The Louvre remained closed on Monday. The museum has a long history of thefts and attempted robberies. The most famous occurred in 1911, when the Mona Lisa disappeared from its frame, stolen by Vincenzo Perugia and recovered in Florence two years later.
Another infamous episode came in 1956, when a visitor threw a stone at his world-famous Smile, causing the paint to peel near his left elbow and causing the work to be put on display behind protective glass.