In a daring heist that lasted only a few minutes, audacious thieves managed to steal invaluable items from the renowned Louvre museum in Paris. French authorities revealed that the robbers took items of significant historical value that belonged to French royalty and colonial leaders. The thieves swiftly entered the museum, broke the glass containers holding the treasures, and absconded within seven minutes.
The incident sparked national outrage, prompting questions about the security lapses that allowed the theft to occur at one of the world’s most heavily guarded museums. The ongoing construction at the Louvre, part of the Nouvelle Renaissance project, created vulnerabilities that the thieves exploited to gain access.
Reports indicate that four masked individuals infiltrated the museum through the construction site using an unattended cherry picker to reach the Apollo Gallery jewel room. Using a battery-powered disc cutter, the thieves breached the glass panes to access the treasures. Security experts highlighted shortcomings in the museum’s security measures, emphasizing the need for burglar-resistant windows and alarms capable of alerting authorities.
Despite encountering museum guards, the thieves managed to evade them and proceeded to smash the display cases housing the valuable jewels. A critical oversight was the lack of CCTV coverage in a specific area near the theft location, allowing the thieves to leave undetected. Following the heist, the culprits attempted to set fire to their vehicle but were thwarted by a quick intervention.
The thieves fled the scene on scooters, evading capture, as investigators work tirelessly to apprehend the perpetrators. This incident adds to a history of high-profile thefts at the Louvre, underscoring the ongoing challenges in safeguarding priceless artworks and artifacts. Despite past security enhancements, the museum remains vulnerable to sophisticated theft attempts, highlighting the need for continual security upgrades.