Featured Image Credit: DIMITAR DILKOFF/Getty/The Telegraph
Topics: Crime, France, News, World News
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Crime, France, News, World News
Shocking footage appears to show the moment robbers made off with precious jewels stolen from the Louvre.
On the morning of October 19, a group of thieves casually made their way into the world-renowned museum and stole various items of jewelry, which some believe could be worth as much $102 million.
While most robberies take place in the cover of night, these robbers broke into the Louvre at 9:30am, 30 minutes after it opened its doors to the public.
They made their way into the Apollo Gallery where jewels once owned by the French monarchy were displayed.
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They took eight items, including a tiara, necklace and single earring from the sapphire set that belonged to Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense, said BBC News.
Investigators are in a race against the clock to track down the robbers and the jewels as it's said that the criminals will probably melt down the precious jewelry.
Art detective Arthur Brand said of the urgency of the matter: "[The police] have a week. If they catch the thieves, the stuff might still be there. If it takes longer, the loot is probably gone and dismantled. It's a race against time."
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THE LOUVRE'S WILD HISTORY OF BEING ROBBED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT
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Days on from the incident and people are still perplexed over how the thieves were able to get into the museum so easily, and now new footage seemingly shows the robbers exiting the building using a mechanical lift.
In a clip shared by The Telegraph, two men (one of which is wearing a hi-vis jacket) are seen making their way down the lift.
The whole heist took the criminals just seven minutes to carry out. They'd attempted to steal nine precious items but dropped Empress Eugenie's diadem as they fled the scene.
Security experts have argued that the robbery could have been prevented.
Mark Patrick, director of technical content at component distributer Mouser Electronics, said: "The Louvre, home to the Mona Lisa and treasures valued in the billions, reportedly relies on a mix of older motion sensors and partial CCTV coverage.
"Many museum setups are designed to react once a breach is in progress rather than predict it. "This is where new sensing technologies come into play, offering motion and environmental sensors that are far more sensitive, precise, and adaptable.
"They can help security networks recognise subtle changes in vibration, pressure, or movement that older systems simply miss."