"Speaking to France Inter radio station on Sunday, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that several individuals entered the Louvre that morning during what he called a "major robbery" that lasted minutes. According to the former Paris police chief, it was "clearly a team that had done their homework" as the windows were cut with a power tool. "Jewelry that has historical and priceless value" had been taken, Nunez said."
"Culture Minister Rachida Dati later told TF1 that the gang broke into the Galerie d'Apollon - a sumptuous room on the first floor of the Petite Galerie that has housed the French crown jewels since 1887 - and that a piece of jewelry was recovered during the escape. Several pieces of jewelry belonging to Napoleon and the Empress Eugenie had been stolen, according to French newspaper Le Parisien."
"A global symbol of French culture, the Louvre is one of the most heavily guarded places in the capital. Despite its security, the museum has at times been breached, most famously in 1911 when Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa was stolen. Other attempts targeted works including Eugene Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, as well as Gustave Courbet's The Wave. Following the heist, the Paris public prosecutor's office announced an investigation into "organized theft and criminal conspiracy to commit a crime.""
Several individuals entered the Louvre on Sunday morning and stole multiple pieces of jewelry from the Galerie d'Apollon, the room that has housed the French crown jewels since 1887. The thieves used power tools to cut windows, suggesting an organized team, and fled on powerful TMax scooters. Officials confirmed that jewelry of historical and priceless value was taken and that one piece was recovered during the escape. No injuries were reported. The Paris public prosecutor opened an investigation into organized theft and criminal conspiracy. The incident raises concerns about museum security despite the Louvre's status as a heavily guarded cultural symbol.
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