The world-famous Paris art museum was preparing to open on Sunday when a gang broke in to plunder priceless jewellery that once belonged to the family of Napoleon Bonaparte
A gang of thieves posed as workmen to break into the Louvre gallery in Paris yesterday in an audacious heist that took just seven minutes.
Just as the world-famous Paris art museum was preparing to open at 9.30am on Sunday, the robbers enacted their plan to plunder priceless jewellery that once belonged to Napoleon and his family.
French authorities have designated 60 investigators to work on the high-profile case. A manhunt has been launched to track down the gang.
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It was the first robbery at the Louvre since 1998 when a painting by landscape and portrait artist Corot was seized.
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that nine pieces were stolen, with two of them found a short while later when the thieves dropped them. He added that the entire theft happened in the space of a seven-minute window.
How the robbery played out – minute by minute
9.30am
Two masked thieves arrived outside the Seine side of the Louvre museum.
They came on scene as the world-famous art attraction was about to open its doors to the public, and as other tourists set out for a day of sightseeing in the French capital.
The “highly organised” criminals targeted part of the museum that was undergoing renovation work.
9.31am
While the pair arrived on motorbikes, another duo – dressed as construction workers – were waiting on the back of a flat-bed truck with an extendable ladder, which they used to climb up to the window of the Apollo Gallery.
9.32am
Using angle grinders, the gang sliced through the external window and prized it open to gain entry to the building.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez explained: “The window was cut through, using a hand-held disc cutter.”
9.33am
Two of the men entered the building while another stayed lookout outside the window. It’s thought the fourth man was still on the ground level.
9.34am
After finding their target, the thieves used a chainsaw to break through two glass cabinets containing some of the country’s most prized possessions.
Chief prosecutor Laure Beccuau described the grouo as a “strike team”, adding they theatened museum guards with the same angle grinders they used to steal the items.
Ms Beccuau claimed the alarms were working at the time, but it’s unknown whether they sounded as the group stole the invaluable jewels.
9.35am
The thieves plucked nine priceless jewels from the 23-piece Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte collection.
They included a tiara, sapphire necklace, sapphire earring and emerald and diamond necklace that Napoleon gave his wife, the Empress Marie Louise.
France’s culture ministry described the eight pieces as “objects of invaluable cultural heritage”.
9.36am
As they made their get away, the gang dropped and broke the Eugénie Crown, which was found below the Louvre window.
The Second Empire piece was made in 1855 and is adorned with thousands of diamonds and emeralds.
It takes the name of Eugénie de Montijo, who married Napoleon III – the nephew of the more famous Napoleon Bonaparte – in 1853 to become Empress of the French.
9.37am
After making their way back down the ladder and on to the street, the group – split between two motorbikes – made away with eight pieces.
It’s understood they drove towards the A6 motorway.
French authorities have put 60 investigators on the high-profile case. A manhunt has been launched to track the men down.
It was the first robbery of the Louvre since 1998 which saw a Corot painting being plundered.