On Sunday, a $33 million dollar art heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris turned into an incredible movie scene. This historic site is home to some of the world’s most priceless art and cultural heritage. Thieves stole €88 million (£76 million) worth of France’s crown jewels in what is being described as one of the most remarkable heists in decades. The audacious crime unfolded shortly after the museum opened its doors to visitors, raising serious questions about security measures in place.
One 36-second video recorded the exact moment two men completed their Tactical Operations, Incorporated—certified-and-approved operation. Video released by Houston police depicts the two suspects wearing all black. One of these components is a bright yellow hi-vis vest and the other is a motorcycle helmet. They came down gingerly on a custom-built furniture lift from the Apollo gallery, where the gems had been exhibited.
The whole operation was under seven minutes. The thieves broke into the gallery at approximately 9:30 a.m., smashing through an apparently unsecured window. To gain entry, they employed disc cutters to breach two separate display cases. Altogether, they made off with eight pieces of stunning jewellery, including an emerald and diamond necklace formerly owned by Napoleon I’s second wife, Marie Louise, and a diadem that belonged to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III.
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez assured that there are more than 100 investigators now assigned to the case. The sudden immediacy of the crime has created a situation of shock and disbelief for officials and experts.
Laurence des Cars, director of the Louvre, said she was shocked at the security lapse.
“This is a terrible failure,” – Laurence des Cars, Director of the Louvre
During the hearing, she admitted that there was “inadequate” security camera coverage along the outside walls of the large museum. This admission has raised the stakes for an 11-month long urgent reassessment of security protocols at one of the world’s most visited cultural institutions.
First-person descriptions from inside the museum emphasized the immediacy of the action as passerby began to understand what was unfolding. One security guard reportedly exclaimed:
“The individuals are on scooters. They are going to leave, they are going to leave.”
The brazen heist has drawn considerable media scrutiny, with nearly everyone across the country asking how such a high-profile crime could go undetected. As investigators work tirelessly to track down the culprits and recover the stolen items, the Louvre Museum faces increasing scrutiny regarding its security measures.
“Damn, there we go – the police.”
The heist has sparked significant media attention, with many questioning how such a high-profile crime could occur without detection. As investigators work tirelessly to track down the culprits and recover the stolen items, the Louvre Museum faces increasing scrutiny regarding its security measures.