What to Know About the Shocking Louvre Jewelry Heist

Could the French TV series Lupine were prophetic? The show envisioned a heist at the Louvre, an event that became reality on the morning of October 19, when a group of professional thieves managed to break into the world-famous Parisian museum. In just seven minutes, they stole a multitude of priceless French crown jewels.

The heist took place around 9:30 a.m. local time, shortly after the museum opened to the public. Using a truck-mounted ladder, the thieves entered the Galerie d’Apollon, located in the Petite Galerie wing of the Louvre, through a second-floor window which they forced open with an angle grinder.

Upon entering, the thieves broke at least two windows, took the valuable items, then fled a few minutes later on two Yahama scooters, disappearing into traffic and soon turning onto the highway.

According to French authorities, the loot included eight crown jewels, almost all dating from the late Napoleonic era. A ninth item, Empress Eugenie’s diamond- and emerald-laden crown, was found damaged nearby, evidently abandoned by the fleeing criminals. The thieves left with a tiara also belonging to the wife of Napoleon III, in full Empire style, decorated with 212 pearls, 1,998 diamonds and 992 other rose-cut diamonds. They also took away a bow brooch belonging to Empress Eugénie, adorned with 2,438 diamonds and 196 rose-cut stones. The collection also includes a set: a tiara with 24 Ceylon sapphires and 1,083 diamonds, accompanied by a necklace with eight impressive sapphires, other diamonds and goldwork, and an ear pendant that belonged to Queen Maria Amalia.

It is difficult to quantify what this collection of jewelry is worth; they are not simple luxury items with a specific value, but rather priceless goods. The literal value of gems, stones and gold is compounded by their historical value, not to mention the fact that they are part of the heritage of the French state, which in itself probably makes them impossible to sell in the traditional market. However, it is possible that, as often happens in this type of theft, the thieves will dismantle the items, melt the precious metals, recut the jewelry to make it less traceable and resell it on the gray or black market, potentially generating tens of millions of euros.

Whatever its outcome, the Louvre robbery was a skillful operation. Some analysts say the thieves exploited vulnerabilities in the museum’s security system, which has for years faced staffing problems, constant work in progress and increasing pressure from exorbitant and growing visitor numbers. A national and international manhunt has now begun. As of now, there are no specific suspects, but all available footage from the area (including video showing one of the thieves at work) is obviously being reviewed.

With all the surveillance footage and cameras now spread across the city, there should be enough material to identify possible leads. President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned this incident and assured that those responsible would soon be brought to justice. Moreover, the time when Italian decorator Vincenzo Peruggia committed what was until now considered the greatest theft in the history of the Louvre is long gone: the daring misappropriation of Leonardo’s works. Mona Lisawhich took place on August 21, 1911.

This painting was returned two years later; Perugia tries to resell it to a Florentine art dealer who then sounds the alarm. Perhaps a similar stroke of luck could happen in this case as well.

This story was originally published on WIRED Italia and was translated from Italian.