Google Photo: The Louvre Museum in Paris
Source; BBC
DST News: Security systems at the Louvre Museum in Paris failed to stop a daring jewellery heist in broad daylight, leaving France facing what its justice minister described as a “terrible image.”
On Sunday morning, four masked robbers armed with power tools broke into the world’s most-visited museum, stealing eight priceless items — including a diamond and emerald necklace once gifted by Emperor Napoleon to his wife — before escaping on scooters. In response, France has tightened security at all cultural institutions, according to the Interior Ministry.
Authorities fear the stolen jewels may soon be dismantled and smuggled abroad. Art crime expert Chris Marinello of Art Recovery International warned that if the culprits are not captured within 48 hours, the jewels will likely be “long gone,” as such pieces are often broken apart, melted, or recut to erase traces of their origins.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin admitted that security protocols had failed. “We clearly failed, since people managed to park a furniture hoist in central Paris and steal priceless jewels in minutes,” he told France Inter radio. However, he expressed confidence that police would eventually catch the thieves.
A preliminary audit revealed that a third of the rooms in the Louvre wing where the theft occurred had no surveillance cameras. French media also reported that the gallery’s alarm system had recently been malfunctioning, raising further questions about museum oversight.
The theft took place between 9:30 and 9:40 a.m., shortly after the museum opened. Using a truck-mounted lift, the robbers entered through a balcony near the River Seine, smashed glass display cases, and escaped within eight minutes. Museum staff followed emergency protocol, contacting security forces as alarms sounded.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the robbery as “an attack on our cherished heritage,” while Senator Nathalie Goulet called it a “painful and humiliating episode,” suggesting that organised crime was behind the theft.
The Louvre remains closed as investigations continue, and police are racing against time to recover the historic jewels — including pieces once owned by Empress Eugénie and Queen Marie-Amelie — before they disappear forever.
