PARIS — In a meticulously planned daylight robbery, thieves infiltrated the Louvre Museum on Sunday morning, making off with nine invaluable pieces from the French Crown Jewels in a swift seven-minute operation.
The heist occurred between 9:30 and 9:40 a.m., shortly after the museum’s opening. Using a cherry picker, the thieves accessed the Apollo Gallery, home to the royal collection, and employed cutting tools to breach windows and display cases. Among the stolen items were an emerald-and-diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon to Empress Marie Louise, a diadem with nearly 2,000 diamonds once owned by Empress Eugenie, and a sapphire necklace belonging to Queen Marie-Amelie. One item—the crown of Empress Eugenie—was dropped and damaged during the escape.
A brief clip of the raid, reportedly filmed by a visitor, was circulated on news channels. The thieves fled on motorcycles, leaving behind some of their equipment.
French authorities have assembled a team of 60 investigators to pursue leads, with Interior Minister Laurent Nunez describing the operation as “meticulously planned” and likely executed by an organized crime group. The incident has reignited debates over the security of France’s cultural institutions. President Emmanuel Macron has vowed that “everything is being done” to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen treasures.
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