Louvre museum robbery: how the thieves broke in, what they stole and what happens next?

"The Louvre the world's most-visited museum was closed suddenly on Sunday after a break-in at its Apollon gallery, the home of the French crown jewels - part of a daring daylight heist that saw priceless Napoleonic jewels stolen. As French police hunt the thieves who stole eight pieces of historic jewellery, questions are being asked about how they did it and who would be in the market for priceless items, including a necklace Napoleon gave to his wife."

"In a highly professional daylight raid, four balaclava-clad thieves pulled up outside the Louvre on a road along the Seine river. About 9.30am about half an hour after visitors began entering the front of the museum the thieves were at the south side of the building, in a truck with a basket lift and an extendable ladder, rising to a second-floor balcony window. Here, they broke in using an angle grinder and other power tools, authorities said."

"They smashed glass displays, grabbing the precious jewellery, but as alarms rang out in the museum alerting guards, the robbers quickly left, escaping on motorbikes. The entire caper took less than 10 minutes, according to the French interior minister, Laurent Nunez. He said it was the work of an experienced team who had clearly scouted the location."

The Louvre closed after a break-in at the Apollon gallery, home to the French crown jewels. Four balaclava-clad thieves accessed a second-floor balcony using a truck with a basket lift and an extendable ladder. The intruders used an angle grinder and power tools to break in, smashed display cases, grabbed eight pieces of historic Napoleonic jewellery and fled on motorbikes. The raid lasted under ten minutes and showed signs of prior scouting. The Empress Eugenie crown was dropped during the escape and the Regent diamond remained in place. Police are searching for the perpetrators and potential buyers.

Read at www.theguardian.com