Thieves steal crown jewels in 4 minutes from Louvre Museum
7 hours ago
- #Heist
- #Louvre
- #Security
- Thieves stole priceless Napoleonic jewels from the Louvre Museum in a daylight heist lasting just four minutes.
- The thieves used a basket lift to access the museum, forced a window, and smashed display cases before fleeing on scooters.
- Among the stolen items were crowns, a parure with matching necklace and earrings, and a brooch, with one crown later found broken outside the museum.
- The theft occurred near the Mona Lisa, highlighting security vulnerabilities, especially around construction zones.
- The Louvre has faced criticism for overcrowding and understaffing, which unions say strain security measures.
- This heist adds to the Louvre's history of high-profile thefts, including the 1911 Mona Lisa theft.
- The incident has sparked political backlash, with far-right leaders criticizing the government's handling of security.
- Forensic teams are investigating, but experts doubt the stolen jewels will be recovered intact due to potential recutting.
- Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing staff to determine if there was inside assistance.