The inconceivable audacity of stealing the most valuable exhibits from the world's busiest museum, during the day and during its normal operating hours. The astonishing simplicity of the method - a lift, a common wheel for the displays. The speed and precision, which testify to excellent preparation and practice. The mockery of surveillance and security systems.
With these ingredients, the recipe for the Louvre heist, and specifically the Apollo Hall, is close to perfection. In Netflix terms, the theft of a series of priceless jewels could be compared to Casa de Papel, at least in terms of the meticulous study and execution of the plan. And for fans of classic film comedy, the success of the perpetrators was not only the incredible loot of the stolen goods (even if they did not grab the famous “Régent”, the mammoth 140-carat diamond), but also the humiliation of the protocols for guarding the treasures in the Louvre museum, reminiscent of the adventures of the Pink Panther and Inspector Clouseau.
While the French Ministry of Culture published photos of the 8 stolen masterpieces, the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, declared with certainty that the thieves would be arrested immediately and the stolen items would be returned to their place in the Louvre's display cases.
However, one of the main questions concerns the fate of the stolen jewels, given that they are so characteristic that they could not have ended up in the illegal market for museum objects. The scenario of the order seems much more plausible. Cinematic, admittedly, but it would be much simpler for someone to assign the Louvre robbers to remove specific jewels, rather than waiting to buy them afterwards.
So, if the robbers and the exhibits they removed from the famous Parisian museum are transferred directly to the collection of the mastermind of the robbery, then they will disappear from public view for an indefinite period of time - or, possibly, forever.
Within just 7 minutes, and while their movements were recorded by the closed-circuit security cameras, two hooded thieves breached the display cases by cutting them with a portable rechargeable wheel and escaped with two other accomplices, riding a scooter. For their invasion and exit from the Apollo Hall, the perpetrators followed the same route, using a lifting machine, which had been placed on the Seine side.
Hollywood-style Louvre burglary: How the imperial jewels were stolen in 7 minutes while the museum was open
The lift used by the perpetrators
In fact, among the stolen goods there was a ninth item, a diamond-studded crown, which the robbers left behind - for some unknown reason - along with their tools, intercom devices, etc.
The treasure stolen from the Louvre includes 1) the diadem from the jewelry set of Queen Maria Amalia and Queen Hortense, 2) a necklace decorated with sapphires, 3) an earring, also with sapphires, 4) the emerald necklace from the jewelry set of Empress Maria Louise bearing 32 emeralds and 1.138 diamonds, 5) a pair of emerald earrings from the jewelry set of Maria Louise, 6) a brooch, known as an "ossuary", 7) the diadem of Empress Eugenie and 8) the brooch-bow of Empress Eugenie with 2.634 diamonds, for the acquisition of which the Louvre had paid in 2008 6,72 million euros to a private collector.
The jewelry that was stolen:
The tiara from the jewelry set of Queen Maria Amalia and Queen Hortense:
The necklace from the sapphire set of Queen Maria Amalia and Queen Hortense:
Earring from the sapphire set of Queen Maria Amalia and Queen Hortense:
The characteristic blue color in this set is due to Ceylon sapphires.
The emerald necklace from the jewelry set of Empress Maria Louise:
The necklace has 32 emeralds and 1.138 diamonds.
A pair of emerald earrings from Maria Louise's jewelry set:
Hollywood-style Louvre burglary: How the imperial jewels were stolen in 7 minutes while the museum was open
Brooch known as a reliquary brooch:
Hollywood-style Louvre burglary: How the imperial jewels were stolen in 7 minutes while the museum was open
Tiara of Empress Eugenia:
Empress Eugenia's bow brooch:
This particular bow brooch has 2.634 diamonds and was purchased by the Louvre Museum for 6,72 million euros. Before its acquisition in 2008, it was in a private collection in the United States.
The thieves broke into two display cases: One contained the so-called “Napoleon jewels” and the other the “jewels of the French rulers.” The object abandoned outside the museum was the crown of Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, who ruled France from 1852 to 1870. The crown, which is set with 1.354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, was reportedly damaged during the robbery.
The crown of Empress Eugenia was found outside the museum:
The Louvre Museum, with 30.000 visitors per day, has remained closed since Sunday morning when it was evacuated after the theft was discovered.
Source: protothema.gr
