A pack of thieves have stolen priceless jewelry from Paris’ famous Louvre in what the French have called an “audacious” seven-minute raid.
Using an external freight elevator that was positioned on a truck, they were able to rob the Apollo Gallery, which houses the French Crown Jewels, and priceless treasures like Louis XIV’s hardstone vessel collection.
The four, unarmed thieves targeted two high-security displays, forcing the window open with an angle grinder, which they also used to threaten guards.
Out of nine stolen pieces, one was recovered, after being dropped or abandoned, and suffered damage: the crown of Empress Eugénie – wife of Napoleon III. The ornate gold crown features 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds.
It goes without saying that the jewels are priceless beyond their market value in what they mean for French heritage and history — and therefore the world’s.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that “everything is being done” to catch the suspects.
But this doesn’t bode well in the minds of those of us who know that thieves, looking for quick cash, often melt down or dismember such masterpieces.
Honestly?
“It’s unlikely these jewels will ever be seen again,” said Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds. “Professional crews often break down and re-cut large, recognizable stones to evade detection, effectively erasing their provenance.”
France’s ministry of culture reports the stolen items as being:
- A tiara and brooch belonging to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III
- An emerald necklace and a pair of emerald earrings from Empress Marie Louise
- A tiara, necklace and single earring from the sapphire set that belonged to Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense
- A brooch known as the “reliquary brooch”
The suspects fled the scene on motorbikes.
Unfortunately, the Louvre had an upcoming overhaul, which included new security measures — too late, given that completion date was set around 2031. But staff has long been stretched thin, and the museum overcrowded.
Unusually, it was a daylight robbery.
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