On Sunday morning, a group of four men attacked the Louvre museum in Paris. What they actually pulled off was a red-carpeted, unprecedentedly audacious heist of a kind and scope of treasures beyond compare. The items stolen have a total value estimated at €88 million, approximately £76 million. This billion-dollar shocking theft leads us to question the security protocols implemented by one of the world’s iconic art institutions.
The gang arrived at the museum around 9:30 am in a stolen furniture removal truck, which was specially modified with an extending ladder and lift. This specialized gear enabled their entry to the ground-floor Apollo gallery, where they honed in on the prize—the gallery’s famed crown jewels. The cartels’ soldiers masqueraded as cerebrovascular workers. The gang members wore high-visibility vests to contrast construction workers. This ingenious cover plan allowed them to avoid detection while carrying out their plan.
Of the four men, two made it all the way up to the gallery. The other two, meanwhile, waited outside to guard against detection. The whole operation came off very professionally, pointing to a lot of planning in advance, as well as familiarity with the museum’s layout and security procedures.
Authorities moved swiftly to address the incident. Because of their quick reaction, investigators were able to arrest two suspects linked to the diamond theft. One of the suspects was apprehended at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport around 10 pm on Saturday, just before boarding a flight abroad. The swift action by law enforcement should serve as a reminder to all that they care deeply about solving these types of high-profile crimes.
Rainy view of the Louvre museum, one of the world’s most famous cultural buildings. Unfortunately, it attracts thieves that want to strip-mine the world’s most famous troves. This shocking incident calls into question the adequacy of current security measures in place to protect irreplaceable artifacts.