That’s quite the eye-catching ensemble.
A man who inadvertently became part of a photograph outside the Louvre in Paris during the investigation of a daring crown jewels theft at the iconic museum has taken the internet by storm.
Decked out in a three-piece suit complete with a dark jacket, gold vest, fedora, and an umbrella doubling as a cane, the enigmatic figure has sparked a flurry of comparisons on social media to characters like Inspector Clouseau from the “Pink Panther” and Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot.
While many assumed this stylish individual must be the lead detective on the case, others playfully suggested his sophisticated look might belong to the mastermind behind the heist.
Police officers restrict entrance to the Louvre following a robbery on October 19 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
One user on X humorously commented on the image, stating, “Authentic photo (not AI!) of a French detective involved in the investigation of the stolen French Crown Jewels from the Louvre.”
Another claimed the man, “who looks like he came out of a detective film noir from the 1940s is an actual French police detective who’s investigating the theft.”
A third wrote, “The detective working the Louvre Jewel heist is the guy in the fedora. Do the French do everything better.”
But The Associated Press photographer who snapped the curious shot last Sunday claimed he had no reason to believe the man had anything to do with the Louvre investigation, that he was just someone who stepped into the frame.
The photographer, Thibault Camus, told his outlet he believed the man added a bit of Parisian je ne sais quoi — “I don’t know what” — to his photos.
This photo provided by Interpol and taken from its website shows the jewels stolen from the Louvre. (Interpol via AP)
“He appeared in front of me, I saw him, I took the photo,” Camus said. “He passed by and left.”
Parisian authorities also decided to add a little French intrigue to the mystery when asked by the AP if they could identify the man.
“We’d rather keep the mystery alive ;)” the Paris prosecutor’s office answered.
People queue outside the Louvre, three days after historic jewels were stolen in a daring daylight heist. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Last Sunday morning, four masked criminals stole several priceless pieces from the Louvre’s crown jewels collection after breaking into a gallery soon after the museum opened.
The thieves fled on scooters and have yet to be caught.
