In a remarkable turn of events, recent video footage captures the moment when the Louvre thieves executed a peculiar slow-motion escape with the valuable French crown jewels. The video shows two individuals, one dressed in a high-visibility jacket and the other in a motorbike jacket, calmly descending a cherry picker they had installed outside the museum without any interference. This incident occurred just before they carried out a daring theft of nine priceless artifacts.
The thieves had ample time to complete their getaway, eventually fleeing on motorcycles after reaching the ground. Despite five days passing since the incident, the authorities have not made any arrests in connection with the £76 million robbery, drawing criticism from opposition politicians in France who labeled it a “national embarrassment.”
Only one item, Empress Eugenie’s crown, was recovered as it was apparently dropped by the culprits during their escape. The rest of the stolen treasures, including a tiara worn by Empress Eugenie, a sapphire diadem, and various items associated with historical figures like Napoleon III and Empress Marie-Louise, are still missing. Concerns have arisen that these valuable artifacts may have been dismantled for illicit sale on the black market.
Following the theft, the Louvre has since reopened to the public under heightened security measures. The museum’s director, Laurence des Cars, admitted to significant security lapses during a hearing with the senate’s culture committee, acknowledging a “grave failure” in the museum’s CCTV coverage of the surrounding area.
In a related development, a British art authenticator, Curtis Dowling, received requests on the day of the heist from individuals in Russia and the Middle East offering substantial sums to authenticate French jewelry believed to be part of the stolen Louvre collection. Dowling expressed concerns that the stolen jewels may have changed hands multiple times already, emphasizing the risks associated with dealing in stolen goods and declining involvement in the situation.
Curtis Dowling, known for his role in the CNBC show “Treasure Detectives,” highlighted the prevalence of fake replicas in the illicit art market and the dangers associated with buying stolen items. Dowling’s encounter sheds light on the illicit trade that often follows high-profile art heists.