Photo: DIMITAR DILKOFF / AFP / Getty Images
A daring heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday (October 19) led to the theft of jewels valued at $102 million. The stolen pieces, including a sapphire diadem and emerald necklace, were taken from the Apollo Gallery, which houses the French crown jewels. The Paris public prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, stated that about 100 investigators are involved in the hunt for the thieves and the missing jewels.
The thieves used a mechanical lift to access the museum's second floor, broke through a window with power tools, and made their escape on scooters. The entire operation lasted less than eight minutes. Despite the museum's alarm system being triggered, the thieves managed to evade capture.
The heist has raised concerns about security at the world-renowned museum. France's culture minister, Rachida Dati, confirmed that the museum's security apparatus functioned properly during the incident. However, investigators believe that organized crime is suspected to be behind the theft, and the French government is taking the situation seriously, with President Emmanuel Macron vowing to catch the culprits.
Officials are worried that the stolen jewels, which hold significant historical value, are at risk of being dismantled and sold on the black market.
As part of the investigation, Louvre director Laurence des Cars has been summoned to appear before France’s Senate Culture Committee on Wednesday to discuss the museum's security measures and what went wrong.
The Louvre remains closed as the investigation continues.