French detectives are now convinced that the daring October 19 robbery of the Louvre’s crown jewels was an inside job.
Security footage and digital forensics reveal that a museum guard had contacts with the men who broke in, giving them critical information about guard routines and camera blind spots.
The thieves used a second‑floor balcony that was not covered by cameras to slip into the security‑tight hallways. From there, they made a swift exit on scooters, taking eight priceless pieces worth more than $100 million.
Investigators also seized an additional 2,000 gold and silver coins the same day – a separate theft that added over $100,000 to the loss. The loot includes a sapphire diadem, necklace and earring belonging to Queen Marie‑Amélie, an emerald necklace from Empress Marie‑Louise, and jewels that once matched Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and corsage‑bow brooch. One of the crown jewels, a 1,300‑diamond imperial necklace set, was later found near the museum in a damaged but recoverable condition.
A Parisian prosecutor has linked the whole operation to an organized crime ring, suggesting a wealthy collector may have financed the hit. “The group could be professional criminals commissioned by a scheming collector,” Laure Beccuau said on BFM TV.
In a rare move, Louvre director Laurence des Cars stepped in front of the French Senate and offered her resignation amid the scandal. All precious national jewels were swiftly moved to the Bank of France for safekeeping as police tightened their search.
The case illustrates how lapses inside a world‑famous museum can invite high‑profile thefts, and it raises serious questions about security protocols at heritage sites worldwide. The investigation continues as authorities close in on the burglars—but officials warn that the jewels may have already been broken up for sale, making recovery unlikely.
Source: New York Post
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