Louvre robbers swipe millions of dollars in jewels in brazen 10-min. raid

The Louvre Museum in Paris was the target of a daring heist carried out by a trio of robbers disguised as construction workers. In a meticulously planned operation, the thieves arrived at the museum on scooters and used a basket lift to access a second-floor window. Armed with mini gas-powered chainsaws, they quickly broke into the museum in front of visitors and workers.

The masked robbers, dressed in reflective vests, calmly cut through glass display cases containing priceless gems and French Crown Jewels. The entire heist took less than 10 minutes, with the thieves making off with nine of France’s most valuable pieces of jewelry.

Despite their professional demeanor, the robbers left behind crucial evidence at the scene, including tools like a concrete saw, angle grinders, and a blowtorch. One of the stolen objects, an emerald-set imperial crown, was found broken outside the museum.

The thieves made a high-speed escape on their scooters, heading southeast out of central Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to recover the stolen works and apprehend the perpetrators, describing the theft as an attack on the nation’s heritage.

The stolen items include a diamond and sapphire tiara, a sapphire necklace and earrings, and an emerald necklace and earrings belonging to historical figures like Queen Hortense and Empress Eugenie. Remarkably, a 140-carat diamond known as “the Regent” was left untouched by the robbers.

This is not the first time the Louvre has been targeted by thieves. In 1976, armed robbers stole a sword belonging to King Charles X from the Apollon Gallery. The sword was never recovered, leading experts to believe it was quickly melted down by the thieves.

The Louvre, the world’s most popular art museum, attracts millions of visitors each year. The recent heist has raised concerns about the security measures in place to protect the priceless artworks housed in the historic institution.