This robbery has shocked French officials at so many different levels. The Louvre is one of France’s most well-known museums. Besides invaluable crown jewels, it also houses the Mona Lisa and is the most visited museum in the world. And that’s why this brazen heist has caused a huge embarrassment to France and the French.
Stunning details emerge from the Louvre robbery
It was done in daylight while there were tourists in the museum on a Sunday morning. The thieves broke into the museum, stole the valuables and bolted — all in less than seven minutes. Think about it – that’s just 420 https://dnz2.khm.gov.ua/ seconds. And they made a run for it on mopeds. The manhunt for them is still on. France has said they suspect it to be the work of professional burglars. French President Emmanuel Macron has called the heist an attack on the heritage of France.
How did the thieves enter the supposedly high-security museum?
Around 9.30am on Sunday morning, thieves approached the museum from the riverfront facade where construction work is going on. They used a lift mechanism on a truck to break a window on the second floor and enter into the Galerie D’Appollon of the museum. This is the floor that has the royal collection of gems and crowns studded with diamonds. The thieves broke into two display cases, snatched the jewels on display and then ran off on motor scooters. According to a report in Le Parisien there were four thieves in all – two dressed as construction workers wearing yellow safety vests and two on the scooters.
What did the thieves steal?
The thieves took nine pieces from a 23-piece collection linked to Napoleon III and his Empress Eugenie. One broken emerald studded crown was recovered just beyond the walls. It features golden eagles and is covered in 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds. The thieves probably dropped it while they were making their exit. The exact value of what was stolen is still being assessed but if this one crown is anything to go by, then it’s easy to guess how devastating the price tag is going to be. A manhunt is underway to find the thieves who have executed what many are calling the ‘heist of the century’.
This isn’t the first time art has been stolen from the Louvre
The Mona Lisa, one of the most viewed paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, sits in the Louvre. In 1911, it vanished from its frame, stolen by a former worker Vincenzo Peruggia. It was recovered two years later in Florence. This heist actually helped to make the painting acquire the kind of frenzy and popularity it sees to this day. Another interesting nugget from this heist is that the person who stole the painting wanted it to be brought back to Italy. Pablo Picasso and poet Guillaume Appollinaire were questioned by the police in the case.
In 1976, three burglars stole a 19th century diamond-studded sword belonging to King Charles X of France. Two Renaissance armour pieces were stolen in 1983. They were recovered almost three decades later. In 1990, Renoir’s painting titled ‘Portrait of a Seated Woman’ was cut from its frame and stolen from the third floor of the gallery.
Naturally, there are many questions about the kind of security the museum has. But there’s also a deep sense of embarrassment at what has happened. ovo88
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