Paris, 09:30 in the morning. It seemed like a normal and calm day, when a group of thieves, made up of three completely masked individuals, according to the French newspaper The Parisian, They managed to access the building on the Seine quay by motorcycle, taking advantage of the fact that some work was being carried out there. Using a forklift and after breaking several windows with small chainsaws, the criminals managed to access the Apollo Gallery of the Louvre Museum, where a wide variety of items of incalculable value are exposed to the public. They knew where to enter and they knew when.
Two of them entered the interior, while the third guarded the perimeter, according to the first information shared in France Inter by the Minister of the Interior and former head of the Paris police, Laurent Nuñez. Once inside, they headed directly towards their objective: nine pieces from the jewelry collection of Napoleon and Empress Eugenie, including a necklace, a brooch and a tiara. Then they left the room with the same precision with which they had entered. They got on a TMax motorcycle that was waiting for them, turned on and ready to escape. Within seconds, they were heading towards the A6 motorway. The entire operation lasted just seven minutes. No injuries, no shootings and not a single shot.
Fortunately, not everything disappeared without a trace, because shortly after the coup, one of the stolen pieces, the crown of Empress Eugenia, was found in the vicinity of the museum, broken, as if she had been thrown in flight or lost in the chaos of escape.
Moments later, while the entire world was already commenting on the coup – on networks, in newspapers and in Parisian cafes – the French Minister of Culture ordered the immediate closure of the premises, one of the most important and symbolic spaces of French heritage. Now another race begins: that of the authorities, because the further these jewels get from Paris, the more difficult it will be to recover them. And every minute counts.
What jewelry has been affected?
According to official sources and local media, the coup focused on a set of pieces belonging to the historical collection of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Empress Eugenie, exhibited in the Apollo Gallery as part of the national heritage. Among the stolen jewelry are:
- A implementer attributed to Eugenia, made with diamonds and natural pearls.
- an imperial tiara which was part of the official trousseau of the empress.
- A diamond brooch with the enameled portrait of Napoleon, one of the most delicate pieces in the collection.
- Six other pieces not yet publicly detailed, but presumed to include earrings, bracelets and other objects with precious stones.
Fortunately, as already mentioned above, the crown of Empress Eugenie was found in the vicinity of the museum, although broken.
What will happen now? The possible legal consequences that the perpetrators of the theft face
The Paris prosecutor’s office has announced that an investigation has already been opened for “organized robbery”, which can lead to prison sentences. up to 30 years in prison and million-dollar fines, especially if the involvement of international networks is demonstrated.
Additionally, the case has been transferred to the Banditry Suppression Brigade (BRB), an elite unit specialized in high-profile crimes, art theft and organized crime. The Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, assured that “All available means are already being implemented to recover the loot,” which could include collaboration with Europol, aerial surveillance and border route control.
It should be noted that France has a specialized system in the fight against art and heritage trafficking, and given the profile of stolen pieces – protected by national heritage legislation – Its sale on the black market is practically impossible without raising suspicions.
