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Paris woke up in shock last Sunday (19) after one of the most audacious episodes in its recent history. THE Louvre Museum was the scene of a cinematographic robbery that resulted in the theft of eight jewels of “inestimable heritage value”, according to the French government.

According to the French Ministry of Culturewho confirmed the crime in an official statement, the thieves also tried to take a ninth item: the empress's crown Eugênia de Montijo (1853–1870), wife of Napoleon III. The piece, however, ended up being left behind during the escape.

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The attack took place shortly after the opening of the museum, in Apollo Gallery (Apollo Gallery) — a gilded and richly decorated hall, commissioned by the king Louis XIVwhere the French crown jewels are kept. The criminals entered through a window and used a service elevator, intended for transporting furniture, to access the location. Using a type of chainsaw equipped with cutting discs, they managed to break through the windows that protected the pieces.

Check out which jewels were stolen:

• Louvre

  Crown from Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense Jewelry Set

• Louvre

  Necklace from Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense's Sapphire Jewelry Set

• Louvre

  Earring, from a pair of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense's sapphire jewelry set

• Louvre

  Emerald necklace from the Marie-Louise set

• Louvre

  Pair of emerald earrings from Marie-Louise's set

• Louvre

  Brooch known as reliquary brooch

• Louvre

  Crown of Empress Eugénie

• Louvre

  Large bodice bow of Empress Eugénie (brooch)

Crown from Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense Jewelry Set

In an action that lasted just four minutes, the group — made up of four men with their faces covered — fled on scooters taking the eight items dating from the Napoleonic era. During their escape, they dropped a ninth object. “All of this demonstrates a high level of preparation,” said the Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuauin an interview with French broadcaster BFM TV.

French authorities are investigating the possible participation of “internal sponsors or accomplices” in the crime. Although foreign interference cannot be ruled out, this “is not the main hypothesis”, according to Beccuau. Among the lines of investigation, the police consider two possibilities: the theft may have been ordered by a private collector, or the pieces may have been taken to be dismantled, with the precious stones sold separately.

A large-scale operation was launched in Paris to identify and capture those responsible. Meanwhile, the Louvre remains partially closed to the public until a new security assessment is completed. In a statement, the French Ministry of Culture classified the theft as “a blow to French heritage” and highlighted that the stolen jewelry “is part of the history and cultural identity of France”. The museum remains closed this Monday (20).

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