Security Footage Reveals Louvre Heist in Graphic Detail
For the first time, French television has broadcast footage of the brazen jewel heist at the world-renowned Louvre Museum, showcasing the daring thieves as they break into display cases with impunity. The four-minute video, filmed by surveillance cameras, shows two masked individuals forcing their way into the Apollo Gallery on October 19th.
The footage reveals that the burglars used high-powered disk cutters to shatter a reinforced window and slice through display cases while staff members stood idly by. Witnesses reported that several staff members were present in the gallery at the time of the break-in, but none intervened to stop the thieves. Instead, they followed procedure and evacuated visitors from the area.
The team of thieves made off with nine pieces of jewelry, including priceless French crown jewels worth an estimated $102 million. However, only one item has been recovered โ a crown that was dropped during the getaway. The stolen items remain at large, sparking widespread concern about security breaches at the museum.
A recent security audit revealed shocking weaknesses in the museum's defenses, including 35% of rooms in the Denon Wing not monitored by security cameras. Furthermore, the gems were not privately insured, according to French law. Trade unions have launched strikes over concerns about recruitment and maintenance, citing a need for improved security measures.
Four suspects are currently in police custody, but the investigation is ongoing, with DNA samples from the scene playing a crucial role in the inquiry. Metal bars have been installed over the windows of the Apollo Gallery since the break-in, a clear indication of the growing concern about security at the museum.
The footage has sparked outrage and calls for greater accountability among museum management, particularly director Laurence des Cars. As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: the Louvre's reputation as an impenetrable fortress has been severely breached.
For the first time, French television has broadcast footage of the brazen jewel heist at the world-renowned Louvre Museum, showcasing the daring thieves as they break into display cases with impunity. The four-minute video, filmed by surveillance cameras, shows two masked individuals forcing their way into the Apollo Gallery on October 19th.
The footage reveals that the burglars used high-powered disk cutters to shatter a reinforced window and slice through display cases while staff members stood idly by. Witnesses reported that several staff members were present in the gallery at the time of the break-in, but none intervened to stop the thieves. Instead, they followed procedure and evacuated visitors from the area.
The team of thieves made off with nine pieces of jewelry, including priceless French crown jewels worth an estimated $102 million. However, only one item has been recovered โ a crown that was dropped during the getaway. The stolen items remain at large, sparking widespread concern about security breaches at the museum.
A recent security audit revealed shocking weaknesses in the museum's defenses, including 35% of rooms in the Denon Wing not monitored by security cameras. Furthermore, the gems were not privately insured, according to French law. Trade unions have launched strikes over concerns about recruitment and maintenance, citing a need for improved security measures.
Four suspects are currently in police custody, but the investigation is ongoing, with DNA samples from the scene playing a crucial role in the inquiry. Metal bars have been installed over the windows of the Apollo Gallery since the break-in, a clear indication of the growing concern about security at the museum.
The footage has sparked outrage and calls for greater accountability among museum management, particularly director Laurence des Cars. As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: the Louvre's reputation as an impenetrable fortress has been severely breached.