A high-stakes race is now underway in France, where authorities are scrambling to recover nine pieces of the country’s crown jewels stolen in a brazen daylight heist at the Louvre over the weekend. Experts warn that investigators have less than a week to find the jewels before they may be melted down or broken apart, erasing centuries of royal history.
According to reports, the theft unfolded on Sunday morning and lasted only seven minutes. Police said four suspects gained access to the Louvre by using a truck with a basket lift, known in France as a monte-meubles. This truck is often used to lift furniture up to high apartments in Parisian neighbourhoods, but the thieves used it to carry themselves up to a balcony at the Galerie d’Apollon (Gallery of Apollo).
From there, they cut a window, entered the property, and threatened museum staff with angle grinders. They then proceeded to shatter display cases that housed some of France’s most prized royal artefacts.
Investigators were also left confused by the precision of the heist. The thieves ignored other valuables, including the world-famous Regent diamond worth $60 million, and moved directly to specific cases holding tiaras, brooches, and necklaces once owned by members of France’s former royal families. Their escape was as daring as the entry, with two scooters speeding away through nearby streets.
The heist has taken a cultural and emotional toll on the country. Officials described the theft as more than a breach of security; it was described as a symbolic assault on the pride and legacy of the French Republic. French President Emmanuel Macron commented on the incident, saying that it was “an attack on a heritage that we cherish because it is our history. He promised that every resource would be used to recover the missing artefacts and bring the culprits to justice.
Crowds gathered outside the museum on Sunday and Monday were turned away after the Louvre was forced to close its doors. Some visitors, who had travelled across continents for once-in-a-lifetime trips, watched in disbelief as police cordoned off the area, transforming one of the world’s most visited cultural landmarks into an active crime scene.
Investigators now face growing pressure amid fears that the stolen pieces may already be dismantled. Specialists have noted that such historical gems cannot be sold on the open market due to their global recognition. Their value lies in their intact form, not as loose emeralds, diamonds, or melted gold. If the jewels were stolen at the request of a private collector, authorities believe there may be hope. If not, the pieces could be lost forever.
French officials have held emergency meetings to address growing public concern and review security protocols at other cultural institutions.