A group of criminals disguised themselves as construction workers to illegally enter the renowned Louvre gallery in Paris on Sunday, executing a swift robbery that lasted a mere seven minutes.
As the prestigious Parisian art museum was gearing up to open its doors at 9:30 am, the thieves executed their plan to steal valuable jewelry that once belonged to Napoleon and his family.
French authorities have mobilized a team of 60 investigators to handle the high-profile case and have initiated a manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators.
This incident marks the first robbery at the Louvre since 1998 when a painting by the artist Corot was stolen.
According to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, the thieves made off with nine pieces, two of which were dropped and later recovered. The entire theft operation transpired within a brief seven-minute timeframe.
The two masked criminals arrived at the Seine side of the Louvre museum just as the institution was about to open to the public, amidst a bustling scene of tourists exploring the French capital.
The organized criminals targeted a section of the museum undergoing renovations, with one duo arriving on motorbikes while another pair, disguised as construction workers, used an extendable ladder on a flat-bed truck to access the Apollo Gallery window.
Using angle grinders, the gang cut through the window and forced their way into the building. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez explained that a hand-held disc cutter was used to breach the window.
While two men entered the building, one stayed outside as a lookout, and it is believed that the fourth accomplice remained at ground level.
Once inside, the thieves utilized a chainsaw to break into glass cabinets containing valuable items, and they reportedly threatened museum guards with angle grinders during the heist.
Although the alarms were operational, it remains uncertain whether they were triggered during the theft of the valuable jewels.
The stolen items included nine priceless pieces from the Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte collection, such as a tiara, sapphire necklace, earrings, and a necklace gifted by Napoleon to Empress Marie Louise.
Described by France’s culture ministry as “objects of invaluable cultural heritage,” the stolen pieces also included the Eugénie Crown, a Second Empire artifact adorned with diamonds and emeralds, which was accidentally dropped and damaged by the thieves.
After grabbing the loot, the gang fled on motorcycles, heading towards the A6 motorway, prompting a thorough investigation by French authorities involving 60 investigators and a widespread manhunt to capture the suspects.