Thieves Steal Valuable Jewelry from the Louvre in Remarkable Daytime Heist

What Happened?

Four thieves pulled off a brazen daylight heist in the Louvre in Paris, France, stealing eight pieces of jewelry valued at tens of millions of dollars. The Ministry of Culture in France issued a statement saying the thieves opened a window, smashed two security display cases then stole ‘eight objects of priceless heritage value.’ As of Tuesday, the perpetrators remained at large.

According to the French news outlet Le Monde, among the stolen items were the necklace from the sapphire set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense, composed of eight sapphires and 631 diamonds. And the tiara of Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III, which contains nearly 2,000 diamonds.

Why it Matters

Early this year the president of the Louvre, Lawrence des Cars, told the French government the museum was in a state of ‘worrying obsolescence’ and had suffered a ‘multiplying number of incidents.’ With the French government currently in an ongoing political crisis, many Parisians and French citizens viewed the break in at the Louvre as another sign of incompetence for the current administration. 

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The theft at the Louvre was one of the largest ever, leading many to question how such an operation could be conducted in broad daylight. The multiplying incidents referred to by Mr. des Cars at the Louvre included structural, maintenance, and security issues. Taken together, the deficiencies and robbery at one of the world’s largest museums represent a national embarrassment for France.

Based on the surveillance footage, the thieves used a ladder to reach an upper-level window, then used cutting tools to break into the museum. After gaining entrance, they used similar tools to force open two display cases and remove the contents, completing the entire theft in seven minutes. The speed with which the robbery took place suggests the thieves had rehearsed the operation ahead of time, indicating a high degree of sophistication and planning on their part.

By completing the theft so quickly, the thieves were able to flee the area before police arrived, although the robbers apparently left behind several pieces of physical evidence, including some of the tools they used to carry out their heist. If the jewels have been separated from the items that were stolen, they could be sold separately, making their future recovery unlikely. 

Public outcry and anger across France has been loud and widespread. With many in France already angry at their government, the Louvre theft will likely increase anger and mistrust in France.

How it Affects You

The Louvre remained closed to visitors as of Tuesday, and French officials have yet to announce when it may reopen. The theft is already being used by politicians from all sides in France to criticize their opponents. Unfortunately, the likelihood of recovering the historical items stolen from the Louvre is low.

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