International
Louvre Heist: Swift Napoleonic Jewel Theft Spurs Security Overhaul
A group of four masked thieves carried out a swift daylight raid on the Louvre, using a ladder and power tools to enter the Apollo gallery and steal eight Napoleonic jewels, leaving the Empress Eugénie’s crown behind as they fled on motorbikes. The incident sparked a major police investigation and renewed criticism of security in French museums, with officials promising enhanced safeguards and a thorough review of preventive measures.
The Louvre Museum in Paris was the scene of a highly professional daylight robbery in which eight priceless Napoleonic jewels were stolen after four masked thieves used a vehicle-mounted ladder to access a second-floor balcony and breached the Apollo gallery, then smashed display cases and seized the items before fleeing on motorbikes; among the losses were pieces gifted by Napoleon I to Marie-Louise, items from Empress Eugénie, and a sapphire-set necklace and related pieces, with the Empress Eugénie’s crown being left behind as the thieves escaped, and the Regent diamond notable for remaining unscathed. The raid, which lasted about seven minutes, prompted a rapid museum closure and a large-scale police investigation, with officials signaling possible involvement by an organized crime group and highlighting perceived security flaws at France’s museums; authorities pledged heightened security measures and ongoing reviews as the case and broader implications for cultural security continue to unfold.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
