A daring heist at the Louvre has stunned Paris, as a ‘highly organized gang’ made off with jewels valued at approximately 88 million euros, according to the city’s chief prosecutor.

In a brazen act, four thieves executed the theft of eight precious items from the world’s most frequented museum at around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. The swift, seven-minute operation is being hailed as one of the most audacious public robberies ever witnessed.

Concerns are mounting that the culprits, who abandoned the invaluable Eugénie Crown during their escape, might have already dismantled the jewels to facilitate a quick sale.

However, Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, who verified the staggering valuation of the stolen treasures, cautioned, “Those who took these gems won’t see 88 million euros (£76 million or $102 million) if they made the grave mistake of breaking down these jewels.”

Beccuau emphasized that the estimated worth does not account for the historical significance tied to these pieces, once part of France’s 19th-century royal heritage.

The theft has sparked a massive investigation, with approximately 100 detectives now on the case, determined to track down both the suspects and the missing gems, which were brazenly taken in broad daylight.

The raid sparked a major security concern after it emerged the gang simply propped up a ladder to enter the Louvre’s Apollo gallery window before stealing the diamond-encrusted items.

But France’s culture minister has insisted that security at the museum ‘worked’ during the theft. 

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau (pictured) said the jewels stolen in the seven-minute Louvre heist are worth an estimated 88million euros (£76million or $102million)

The tiara, pictured, from the jewellery set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Horten that was made in Paris in the 19th century, was taken

Empress Eugenie’s tiara (pictured), created by Alexandre-Gabriel Lemonnier in 1853, was stolen

Thieves also got away with an emerald necklace, pictured, from the Marie-Louise set made by master jeweller François-Régnault Nitot in 1810

‘The Louvre museum’s security apparatus did not fail, that is a fact,’ Rachida Dati told lawmakers in the National Assembly. ‘The Louvre museum’s security apparatus worked.’

Ms Dati said an inquiry has been launched in addition to the police investigation to uncover what happened, though she did not offer any details over how the thieves managed to carry out the raid given the cameras were working.

She described the robbery as ‘a wound for all of us’, adding: ‘Why? Because the Louvre is far more than the world’s largest museum. It’s a showcase for our French culture and our shared patrimony.’

The museum continued its shutdown into Sunday night as a meeting was held with interior minister Laurent Nunez and Ms Dati after it emerged security guards failed to confront the gang.

Mr Nunez said the museum’s alarm was triggered when the window of the Apollo Gallery was forced and that police arrived two or three minutes after they were called by an onlooker.

The minister also did not disclose details about video surveillance cameras that may have filmed the thieves around and in the museum pending a police investigation.

‘There are cameras all around the Louvre,’ he said.

Justice minister Gerald Darmanin conceded windows and display cabinets were too easily broken into and there were not enough CCTV cameras in the targeted wing.

The gang swiped the necklace, pictured, from the sapphire jewellery set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense. It was made in Paris between 1800 and 1835

Empress Eugenie’s brooch, pictured, which contains 2,438 diamonds, was stolen in the raid

A pair of emerald earrings, pictured, from the Marie-Louise set, were stolen in the theft. It was made in Paris by François-Régnault Nitot in 1810

One earring, part of the pair, pictured, from the sapphire jewellery set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortens, was nabbed. It was made in Paris in the first third of the 19th century

The pictured brooch, known as the reliquary brooch, was created in 1855 by Paul-Alfred Bapst. It was taken by thieves in the Louvre raid

The Crown of Empress Eugénie (pictured) was stolen but found discarded and damaged shortly after the heist

‘We failed and presented a deplorable image of France,’ he said.

The gang, who remain at large, arrived masked and wielding angle grinders before launching their heist.

Footage earlier this week appeared to show one of the suspected thieves wearing a hi-viz vest as they seemingly broke into a glass cabinet. 

The group are believed to have targeted the wing of the museum by the Seine River because construction works had been taking place.

In the whirlwind heist, the gang hurriedly prised open two display cases and crammed away nine pieces of the 23-item Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte collection. 

In total they got away with eight objects including a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a matching set linked to 19th-century French queens Marie-Amelie and Hortense.

They also nabbed an emerald necklace and earrings from the matching set of Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife; a reliquary brooch; and Empress Eugenie’s diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch, a prized 19th-century imperial ensemble which contains 2,438 diamonds.

French President Emmanuel Macron vowed on Sunday: ‘We will recover the works and the perpetrators will be brought to justice.’