Four-minute heist at the Louvre: How priceless jewels were stolen in France

"The Louvre Museum in the French capital has closed for exceptional reasons after a group of intruders successfully stole eight pieces of priceless jewellery in a quick-hit heist that has rocked the world's most-visited museum. A manhunt for the thieves was under way in Paris on Sunday as police cordoned off the museum famously home to Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa with tape and as armed soldiers patrolled its iconic glass pyramid entrance."

"French government and museum officials said several intruders entered the Galerie d'Apollon (Apollo's Gallery) through a window shortly after the museum opened, relying on a lift used to hoist furniture into buildings. Within just four minutes, the thieves stole away on motorcycles laden with eight items dating back to the Napoleonic era, dropping a ninth on their way out."

Thieves used an extendable ladder and motorbikes to steal eight precious items from Apollo's Gallery at the Louvre. French government and museum officials said intruders entered the Galerie d'Apollon through a window shortly after opening, relying on a lift used to hoist furniture into buildings. The thieves escaped on motorcycles within four minutes, dropping a ninth item. The targeted pieces dated back to the Napoleonic era and were housed in a gold-gilded gallery that contains the French crown jewels. Police evacuated the museum, sealed the area and launched a manhunt; no injuries were reported.

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