Was there a sixth season of Money Heist? Many thought the story had ended, but in Paris, the popular series continued for another sequel on Sunday. French police are hunting for four masked robbers who carried out a daring jewelery heist at the Louvre Museum in broad daylight, stealing imperial jewels described as “priceless” and “of immeasurable heritage value.,The thieves struck quickly and with precision, moving calmly and leaving almost no trace in one of France’s boldest museum robberies at a site visited by nine million people each year.Nuñez, France’s interior minister, said the thieves were “clearly a team that had done their homework.” He confirmed that the raid took place in “just seven minutes” and described the robbers as “an experienced team, possibly foreigners.”
A seven-minute heist
The robbery unfolded on Sunday between 9:30am and 9:40am local time, just after the museum opened to the public. The four thieves arrived on two high-powered TMax scooters and used a vehicle-mounted lift to access the first-floor Galerie d’Apollon, which houses France’s crown jewels.Two of them cut through a glass window with a battery-powered disc cutter while others kept watch. Once inside, the masked men threatened guards and smashed two display cases containing the royal collection. Within seven minutes, they had fled with eight valuable items before staff could intervene.
‘Calm’ and ‘experienced’ thieves
France’s culture minister Rachida Dati said the robbers “entered calmly” and appeared “experienced” and well-prepared for their escape. “The vulnerability of museums is a long-standing issue,” she told TF1. “These museums must be adapted to new forms of crime.”According to the ministry, the gallery’s localized alarm had been malfunctioning, though the wider museum alarms did sound. Five security guards were in the gallery at the time and immediately evacuated visitors as police were contacted.
What items were stolen?
Among the treasures stolen were pieces once belonging to French royalty and imperial rulers. Authorities confirmed the stolen items included:
- A tiara and brooch belonging to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III
- An emerald necklace and a pair of emerald earrings from Empress Marie Louise
- A tiara, necklace and single earring from the sapphire set that belonged to Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense
- A “reliquary brooch” adorned with diamonds and gemstones
Each item is considered historically priceless. Two objects, including Empress Eugénie’s crown, were later found near the museum, apparently dropped during the escape. They are being examined for possible damage.
A flawed security system?
Justice minister Gérald Darmanin admitted that the incident exposed flaws in France’s museum security. “What is certain is that we have failed, since people were able to park a furniture hoist in the middle of Paris, get people up it in several minutes to grab priceless jewels and give France a terrible image,” he told France Inter radio.Natalie Goulet, a member of the French Senate’s finance committee, called it a “very painful” moment for the country. “We are all disappointed and angry,” she said. “It is difficult to understand how it happened so easily.”
Will the jewels ever be seen again?
The theft triggered political outrage. President Emmanuel Macron called it “an attack on our history” and vowed that “everything is being done” to catch the perpetrators. Far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella described the raid as an “unbearable humiliation” and asked, “How far will the disintegration of the state go?” Marine Le Pen called it “a wound to the French soul.”Experts fear the jewels may never be recovered intact. “They are not going to keep them intact,” said Chris Marinello, chief executive of Art Recovery International. “They are going to break them up, melt down the valuable metal, recut the valuable stones and hide evidence of their crime.”Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, said recovery would be difficult. “It’s unlikely these jewels will ever be seen again,” he said, explaining that professional crews often destroy recognizable pieces to erase their provenance.
Heists through the ages
The Louvre has faced similar security challenges before. In 1998, a painting by Camille Corot titled Le Chemin de Sèvres was stolen and never recovered. The museum’s most famous work, the Mona Lisa, was also stolen in 1911 and found two years later.The latest heist comes amid a string of thefts at French museums. Last month, thieves stole porcelain worth €9.5 million from the Adrien Dubouché Museum in Limoges, and in November last year, armed robbers raided the Hieron Museum in Burgundy, escaping with millions worth. of art.
Museum open or closed?
The Louvre remained closed on Monday as investigations continued, with police securing entrances and setting up metal barriers around the glass pyramid. In a message on its website, the museum said visitors with pre-booked tickets would be refunded. Since it is closed every Tuesday, the earliest possible reopening could be Wednesday.
