A group of thieves disguised as construction workers broke into the Louvre gallery in Paris yesterday in a daring heist that lasted only seven minutes.
The robbery occurred just before the opening of the renowned Paris art museum on Sunday, where the thieves targeted priceless jewelry once owned by Napoleon and his family.
French authorities have assigned 60 investigators to the case and launched a manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators.
This incident marks the first robbery at the Louvre since 1998 when a painting by artist Corot was stolen.
According to France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, the thieves made off with nine pieces, dropping two of them shortly after. The entire theft operation took place within a brief seven-minute timeframe.
The criminals, described as “highly organized,” focused on a section of the museum undergoing renovations. They arrived on motorcycles while accomplices dressed as construction workers waited with an extendable ladder to access the Apollo Gallery window.
Using angle grinders, the gang cut through the window to gain entry to the building. Two individuals entered the museum, while others remained outside to keep watch.
The thieves used a chainsaw to break into glass cabinets containing precious items, threatening museum guards with their tools.
Despite functioning alarms, it remains unclear if they were triggered during the theft. The stolen items included jewels from the Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte collection, such as a tiara and necklaces.
During their escape, the gang dropped and damaged the Eugénie Crown, a historic piece adorned with diamonds and emeralds.
After stealing eight pieces, the thieves fled on motorcycles towards the A6 motorway. French authorities are actively pursuing the case with a team of investigators and a manhunt to capture the culprits.