Brazen robbers stole priceless French crown jewels from the Louvre Museum’s Apollo Gallery in broad daylight, prompting concerns that the treasures could be melted down.
In a shocking daytime heist, thieves stole invaluable French crown jewels from the Louvre Museum’s Apollo Gallery on Saturday. The robbery occurred in broad daylight, raising alarms about the security of one of the world’s most famous museums.
Tim Carpenter, a former FBI art crime expert, described the operation as a “targeted heist,” indicating that the thieves had a clear understanding of what they were after. “They knew precisely what they were going for, and they understood the value and the cultural significance of these pieces,” Carpenter told Fox News Digital. He emphasized that the stolen items hold immense importance to the people of France.
The audacity of the theft was underscored by its timing; it took place around 9:30 a.m. local time while the museum was open to the public. The thieves executed their plan in under seven minutes, leaving law enforcement scrambling to recover the stolen jewels.
According to reports, the crew targeted the Apollo Gallery, which houses historic treasures associated with Napoleon and Empress Eugénie. Among the items taken were a crown believed to have belonged to Empress Eugénie, a sapphire diadem, a necklace, and a single earring from a matching set linked to 19th-century French queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense. Additionally, an emerald necklace and earrings from Empress Marie-Louise’s matching set were stolen, along with a reliquary brooch and Empress Eugénie’s diadem and corsage-bow brooch.
Carpenter speculated that the thieves might melt down the stolen treasures. “They could be melted down or pieced out,” he explained. “They’ll punch stones out of the crowns, and they’ll cut the stones, and they’ll market them individually.” This potential fate for the jewels raises concerns about their preservation and historical significance.
As reported by French daily Le Parisien, the thieves, two of whom were disguised as construction workers, gained access to the museum by parking nearby. They used a lift to reach a first-floor window and smashed it open with an angle grinder. Carpenter noted that the timing of the heist coincided with a chaotic moment in the museum, as visitors were settling in.
After the robbery, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez addressed the media, confirming that the thieves “entered from the outside using a basket lift” and employed a disc cutter to breach the glass panes containing the precious jewels. The investigation is currently underway, with authorities compiling a detailed list of the stolen items. The ministry emphasized that, beyond their market value, these artifacts possess inestimable heritage and historical significance.
Carpenter pointed out the vulnerabilities inherent in historic buildings like the Louvre. “Because it’s a historic building, there are just natural vulnerabilities that occur, and these guys just found one of those and found a way to exploit it,” he said. He expressed optimism about the local authorities’ ability to conduct an effective investigation, identify the perpetrators, and potentially recover the stolen pieces before they are lost forever.
As the investigation unfolds, the art world watches closely, hoping for the safe return of these irreplaceable treasures.
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