Share this @internewscast.com
Thieves in balaclavas broke into the Louvre museum in Paris, using a crane to smash an upstairs window, then stole priceless objects from an area that houses the French crown jewels before escaping on motorbikes, officials said.
The robbery on Sunday raises awkward questions about security at the museum, where officials had already sounded the alarm about lack of investment at a world-famous site, home to artworks such as the Mona Lisa, that welcomed 8.7 million visitors in 2024.
“The theft committed at the Louvre is an attack on a heritage that we cherish because it is our History,” French President Emmanuel Macron said on X.
“We will recover the works, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice.”

At approximately 9:30 a.m. local time, a daring robbery unfolded at the renowned Galerie d’Apollon in Paris, shortly after the museum had welcomed its first visitors of the day. Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor, detailed the incident during an interview with BFM TV.

Louvre Closes After Jewellery Heist

In response to the theft, the museum temporarily closed its doors as French authorities launched an investigation into the brazen crime.

The heist, which lasted only six to seven minutes, was executed by a group of four individuals who, though unarmed, menaced the security personnel with angle grinders, Beccuau reported.

Alexandre Giquello, president of the Drouot auction house, remarked on the heist’s audacity, stating, “The crown alone is valued at several tens of millions of euros, yet it might not even be the most significant piece taken.”

Beccuau said it was a mystery why the thieves did not steal the Regent diamond, which is housed in the Galerie d’Apollon and is estimated to be worth more than $92 million by Sotheby’s.
“I don’t have an explanation,” she said.
“It’ll only be when they’re in custody and face investigators that we’ll know what type of order they had and why they didn’t target that window.”
Beccuau said one of the thieves was wearing a yellow reflective vest, which investigators have since recovered. She added that the robbers tried and failed to set fire to the crane, mounted on the back of a small truck, as they fled.
Interior minister Laurent Nunez said the probe had been entrusted to a specialised police unit that has a high success rate in cracking high-profile robberies.

Prosecutor Beccuau emphasized that investigators are exploring all possible avenues to resolve the case.

But she said it was likely the robbery was either commissioned by a collector, in which case there was a chance of recovering the pieces in a good state, or undertaken by thieves interested only in the valuable jewels and precious metals. She said foreign interference was not among the main hypotheses.
The Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum, said on X it would remain closed for the day for “exceptional reasons”.
The Mona Lisa was stolen from the museum in 1911 in one of the most daring art thefts in history, in a heist involving a former employee. He was eventually caught and the painting was returned to the museum two years later.
Earlier this year, officials at the Louvre requested urgent help from the French government to restore and renovate the museum’s ageing exhibition halls and better protect its countless works of art.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Alexander Philogene and his uncle Chris Jarmer

Tragic Passing: 21-Year-Old Zander Succumbs to Sudden Illness Mid-Flight

Australians have been warned against a severe strain of meningococcal B circulating…
The Budget is setting aside $90.6million to boost the number of skilled workers in the construction sector (pictured are construction workers at Parramatta in Sydney's west)

Federal Budget 2024: Critics Label It as Vote-Buying Strategy, While PM Remains Tight-Lipped on Election Date

Anthony Albanese is sidestepping inquiries about the possibility of an early election,…
Richard Pusey

Richard Pusey Files Lawsuit Against Victoria Police Over Fatal Eastern Freeway Incident

Victoria Police will defend itself in court after Porsche driver Richard Pusey…
Disney + informed Australian customers of the price change in an email today.

Disney+ Shakes Up Streaming with Another Price Hike: What Subscribers Need to Know

Australian Disney+ subscribers are set to pay more for their streaming plans…
Dingoes attack young girl and mother at popular campsite

Shocking Dingo Encounter: Mother and Daughter Attacked at Beloved Campsite

A young girl and her mother are the latest in a string…
Aussie scientists develop injectable treatment to help flat-nosed dogs breathe easier

Revolutionary Injectable Treatment by Aussie Scientists Offers New Hope for Flat-Nosed Dogs’ Breathing Issues

Short-nosed dogs could soon be able to breathe easier thanks to a…
Robert F Kennedy has doubled down on Donald Trump's incorrect maths.

Trump and Kennedy’s Baffling Math Claims: Unraveling the Controversial Calculations

The President of the United States has consistently asserted that his initiatives…
The rugby community in Waikato, New Zealand has been thrown into mourning by the sudden death of sportswoman Courtney Johansen (pictured)

Football Community Honors Cherished 29-Year-Old Coach Following Tragic Loss of Her and Unborn Child Due to Undiagnosed Health Issue

Heartfelt tributes have emerged for a New Zealand athlete who tragically passed…
Charlotte MacInnes

Actor’s Emotional Court Testimony Involving Rebel Stirs Controversy

A young actress recently fought back tears while recounting her experiences with…
Maddicyn Brokenshire was overcome with worry after finding out her son, Ollyver, was battling Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS)

Mother’s Instincts Spot Rare Condition in Womb, Leaving Baby Boy with Scars

While most parents believe their child is unique, Maddicyn Brokenshire has compelling…

NASA’s Revolutionary Telescope Set to Map the Universe: A New Era in Cosmic Exploration

In brief: NASA has announced a powerful new space telescope called Roman.…
Ahead of the Budget delivery on Tuesday evening, Greens housing spokesman Max Chandler-Mather slammed the $9.3billion surplus as evidence of 'how little Labor cares about the housing crisis'

Budget 2024: Albo’s Challenger Unveils Key Oversight by Jim Chalmers

For the second consecutive year, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced a budget…