On Saturday, an audacious daytime heist went down at the Louvre Museum in Paris. This world-famous institution is known for its expansive and global collection of art and history. View of the museum’s Apollo Gallery, where thieves pulled off an artful caper. They made off with nine priceless pieces of jewellery, including a tiara and necklace, formally bequeathed by the Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense. The art stolen in that heist alone has been valued at 88 million euros, or about $102 million.
The robbery itself was over in just seven minutes. To do this, the thieves used a truck-mounted ladder to enter the gallery through an unsecured window, bypassing the museum’s security protocols. French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged the glaring security weaknesses exposed by this incident, stating, “One can wonder about the fact that, for example, the windows hadn’t been secured, about the fact that a basket lift was on a public road.” He went on to confess, “What is clear, however, is that we have missed the mark.”
As many as 100 investigators were reportedly mobilized in a manhunt for the suspects after the armed heist. On Saturday evening, law enforcement arrested two men in their thirties, on charges of aggravated battery and armed criminal action. Both men were already on the feds’ radar. One of the arrested individuals was apparently preparing to depart France. He wanted to fly out from Roissy airport, also called Charles de Gaulle airport.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez commended the resolve of the investigative panel. He stated, “They have worked tirelessly, as I asked them to, and who have always had my full confidence.” Even after these arrests, there are still at least two other suspects identified, who are not in custody yet as part of the theft.
The other major space that showcases the museum’s exquisite architecture is the Apollo Gallery, known for its flamboyant architecture. It’s the most popular room in the museum. Information about the fatal incident has raised profound concerns. It raises serious doubts about the strength of security procedures at one of the planet’s most popular gateways to culture. The rampant thefts not only underscore the vulnerabilities provided but it raises doubts as to what really is in place to truly protect these invaluable artifacts.
