A daylight robbery at the Louvre leaves France in shock as crown jewels are stolen.
A daring daylight robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris has shocked the French people and left an entire nation wondering, «How?»
According to Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau, the thieves targeted the French crown jewels, which are worth more than $100 million.
At 9:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, the thieves drove a truck-mounted ladder («cherry-picker») to a window in the Apollo Gallery where the Crown Jewels were on display. After climbing to a second-story window, the thieves cut through the glass with a disc cutter, which set off the alarm.
Brandishing the disc cutter to intimidate two guards responding to the alarm, the thieves smashed two display cases containing the Crown Jewels.
«The robbers grabbed a royal sapphire necklace, a royal emerald necklace and a diadem worn by Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III», and other items, according to the New York Times.
Authorities say the heist was not an «art theft. » The thieves only stole items encrusted with jewels, suggesting they will probably destroy the jewelry to remove the diamonds, gold, and other gems. «One tiara, which once belonged to Queen Hortense, contained 24 Ceylon sapphires and 1,083 diamonds», reports the Times. Because of that, the French police say it was “commodity theft.”
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the robbery was «a major, highly organized operation» carried out by a team that had done homework.
