Astonishing footage seems to capture the moment when thieves made their escape with valuable jewels taken from the Louvre.
On the morning of October 19, a group of robbers nonchalantly entered the famous museum and made off with various pieces of jewelry, estimated by some to be worth as much as $102 million.
Unlike typical heists that occur under the cover of darkness, these burglars struck the Louvre at 9:30 am, just half an hour after it opened to visitors.
The thieves made their way to the Apollo Gallery, where jewels once owned by the French monarchy were on display.
According to BBC News, they stole eight items, including a tiara, necklace, and a single earring from the sapphire set that belonged to Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense.
Authorities are racing against time to catch the robbers and recover the jewels before they are potentially melted down.
Art detective Arthur Brand emphasized the urgency, stating: “[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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Even days after the incident, many remain baffled at how the thieves managed to enter the museum so effortlessly. Recently, new footage appears to show the robbers leaving the premises using a mechanical lift.
A clip shared by The Telegraph depicts two men, one donning a hi-vis jacket, descending in the lift.
The entire heist was completed in just seven minutes. The criminals tried to take nine valuable items but dropped Empress Eugenie’s diadem during their escape.
Security professionals have suggested that the theft might have been avoidable.
Mark Patrick, director of technical content at component distributor Mouser Electronics, commented: “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 recognize subtle changes in vibration, pressure, or movement that older systems simply miss.”