The Louvre denied on Monday that it had contacted a private Israeli intelligence firm to investigate the weekend jewel heist.. The Israeli group CGI Group, based in Tel Aviv, previously told AFP that the world-famous museum had asked for help, writes TASR.
“The Louvre has made an exceptional request to us to reveal the identity of those involved in the theft and recover the stolen artefacts,” CGI Group CEO Zvika Naveh told AFP. The world-renowned museum reportedly asked for their help due to past success in retrieving artifacts from a German museum stolen in 2019.
“The management of the Louvre denies this,” a representative of the museum said when asked by AFP without further comment.
Asked for clarification, Naveh said the request came through “an intermediary acting on behalf of the Louvre and other entities, including insurance companies.” The management of the Louvre reiterated that it “has not contacted anyone”.
Thieves broke into the Apollo Gallery in the Louvre on Sunday morning and they stole nine pieces of priceless jewelry. They lost a crown covered with more than 1,000 diamonds in their escape.
The burglary of the Green Vault (Grünes Gewölbe) jewelry store in Dresden on November 25, 2019 is considered one of the most spectacular art thefts in Germany. Thieves stole 21 pieces of jewelry decorated with more than 4,300 diamonds worth 113 million euros.
In May 2023, they were convicted of this burglary members of the Berlin crime clan Remmo for several years in prison. The verdict was preceded by an agreement with the prosecutor’s office and the return of a large part of the loot. However, the police are still searching for several of the most valuable items.
