BREAKING: Thieves have executed a stunning heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, snatching priceless jewels in just four minutes. The brazen operation unfolded at approximately 9:30 AM local time today, while the museum was open to the public, as confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior.
Authorities report that the thieves, armed with power tools, targeted the Galerie d’Apollon, home to the French crown jewels. They entered through a window using a basket lift and a disc cutter before making a swift escape on motorbikes. “The operation lasted almost four minutes – it was very quick,” stated Culture Minister Rachida Dati. “We have to say that these are professionals.”
The stolen items include up to nine pieces from the jewelry collection of Napoleon and the Empress, with one piece belonging to Empress Eugenie discovered broken outside the museum. Officials are compiling a detailed list of the stolen treasures, emphasizing their irreplaceable historical value. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among museum staff or visitors during the incident.
The Louvre, known as the most-visited museum in the world and home to masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, announced it would close for the day due to the robbery. Footage from outside the museum shows chaotic scenes as police cordoned off the area, leaving tourists bewildered and unable to enter.
Speaking on France Inter radio, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the theft as a “major robbery,” highlighting the “jewels of inestimable value” taken from the gallery. The thieves’ method mirrors recent targeted thefts at other French museums, raising serious concerns about security in cultural institutions.
This incident is not isolated; just last month, thieves broke into Paris’s Natural History Museum, stealing gold samples valued at €600,000 ($700,000). The use of advanced tools for such crimes marks a disturbing trend in art theft across the nation.
Historically, the Louvre has faced significant thefts, most notoriously in 1911 when the Mona Lisa was taken by a former employee and later recovered. In 1983, two Renaissance-era pieces of armor were stolen and only returned nearly forty years later.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The swift actions of law enforcement in responding to the heist highlight the serious commitment to recovering the stolen items.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops. The implications of this theft touch not only on the loss of invaluable artifacts but also on the safety of cultural heritage worldwide.
