The French culture ministry said eight pieces were stolen – but not the hugely valuable crown of Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugenie
The Louvre – the world’s most-visited museum – was closed suddenly on Sunday after a break-in at its Apollon gallery, the home of the French crown jewels - part of a daring daylight heist that saw priceless Napoleonic jewels stolen.
As French police hunt the thieves who stole eight pieces of historic jewellery, questions are being asked about how they did it and who would be in the market for “priceless” items, including a necklace Napoleon gave to his wife.
In a highly professional daylight raid, four balaclava-clad thieves pulled up outside the Louvre on a road along the Seine river. About 9.30am – about half an hour after visitors began entering the front of the museum – the thieves were at the south side of the building, in a truck with a basket lift and an extendable ladder, rising to a second-floor balcony window. Here, they broke in using an angle grinder and other power tools, authorities said.
They smashed glass displays, grabbing the precious jewellery, but as alarms rang out in the museum alerting guards, the robbers quickly left, escaping on motorbikes. The entire caper took less than 10 minutes, according to the French interior minister, Laurent Nunez.
