Brazen Jewel Heist Hits Louvre; Thieves Remain at Large

PARIS, France — Thieves made off with an estimated €88 million ($102 million) worth of crown jewels from the Louvre Museum on Sunday, illustrating glaring security vulnerabilities at the world’s most-visited museum.

The heist occurred around 9:30 a.m. local time, just after the museum opened for the day. Four suspects used power tools to break into the Galerie d’Apollon, threatening museum guards and evacuating the premises.

French prosecutors announced Tuesday that the investigation has mobilized approximately 100 officers. Laure Beccuau, the Paris public prosecutor, characterized the stolen jewels as having historical significance that far surpasses their monetary value.

Romain Déchelette, president of Serex Assurances, confirmed that the Louvre is not privately insured for artworks, as French law designates its collections as state property. Insurance is only available when objects are loaned or moved. “Everything that belongs to state museums in France is uninsured unless it leaves the museum,” he said.

Meanwhile, a security audit revealed that about 35% of the rooms in the Denon Wing, where the jewels were displayed, lack camera coverage, raising serious concerns about the museum’s security measures.

More troubling, thieves reportedly completed their operation within four minutes, escaping on motorcycles. Many experts believe the stolen crown jewels may be broken down and sold on the black market.

In the wake of the theft, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati has called for a police station to be established within the Louvre to ensure enhanced security for art pieces like the iconic Mona Lisa.

While investigations are ongoing, criminologist Alain Bauer expressed doubts about the recovery of the stolen jewels. “I don’t think we will capture the jewels,” he stated, though he remained optimistic about catching the suspects involved.