Professional thieves stole numerous French Crown Jewels from the Louvre Museum in a daring daytime heist Sunday morning in Paris.
Three to four crooks used a construction truck and a ladder to reach a second-floor balcony, then broke through a window into the museum’s Apollo Room and stole jewels that belonged to Napoleon III and his wife, Empress Eugenie, according to French police.
A full accounting of what the intruders took remains ongoing, authorities said. Officials did not even attempt to estimate the value of the stolen diamonds. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the jewelry “has sentimental value and is priceless.”
Within seven minutes of their entry, the thieves fled the museum and made their getaway on motorbikes, police said. No one was hurt during the stunning operation.
Shortly afterward, investigators found an emerald-studded crown belonging to Empress Eugenie outside the museum. The crown was damaged by the time cops found it.
The shocking heist occurred about 200 yards from the Mona Lisa, which was not affected in the break-in. Photos from the scene showed confused tourists being steered away from the Apollo Room.
A daytime robbery of the Louvre is nearly unheard of, though thieves have targeted Europe’s museums during public hours before.
The Louvre is the most visited and arguably the most famous museum in the world. It has its own history of thefts and attempted robberies, the most famous being the 1911 pilfering of the Mona Lisa by Vincenzo Peruggia.
“It’s unlikely these jewels will ever be seen again,” said Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds. “Professional crews often break down and re-cut large, recognizable stones to evade detection, effectively erasing their provenance.”
With News Wire Services
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