Concerns are rising about the methods used by thieves in executing a bold robbery at the Louvre over the weekend, escaping with jewels valued at an astonishing £76 million, as confirmed by the Paris prosecutor.
French culture minister Rachida Dati emphasized to the National Assembly that the security system at the Louvre museum did not falter but functioned effectively during the incident.
Outrage swept the nation following the use of a ladder mounted on a vehicle to access a window, the shattering of glass cases, and the theft of eight pieces of Napoleonic jewelry encrusted with numerous diamonds and gemstones, all accomplished in less than eight minutes.
Dati mentioned the initiation of an administrative inquiry alongside the police probe to ensure transparency but provided no insight into how the thieves managed to carry out the heist despite surveillance cameras being operational.
Describing the theft as a blow to everyone, Dati expressed the significance of the Louvre not just as a museum but as a representation of French culture and heritage.
Interior minister Laurent Nunez revealed that the museum’s alarm was triggered by a forced entry through the window of the Apollo Gallery. Police response occurred within minutes of being alerted by a witness, with details on potential camera footage of the thieves pending the ongoing investigation.
A group of four masked thieves utilized a truck with a mechanical lift to access a balcony near the Apollo Gallery. Two individuals from the group utilized a battery-powered cutter to break through glass panes, entered the premises, intimidated the guards who then evacuated the building. The thieves proceeded to ransack the display cases and seize royal treasures before fleeing the museum within a four-minute window.
Officials listed the stolen items as eight in total, including jewelry pieces associated with historical figures such as French queens Marie-Amelie and Hortense, Empress Marie-Louise, and Empress Eugénie, containing a substantial number of diamonds and gemstones.
The reopening of the museum, which was closed post-robbery and remained shut in the subsequent days, remains uncertain for Wednesday.
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