On Sunday, French media aired surveillance camera footage of the robbery that took place at the Louvre Museum in October, in the heart of Paris.
The footage shows two thieves, one wearing a black mask and a yellow jacket, and the other dressed in black with a motorcycle helmet, entering the Apollo Hall where the jewelry was displayed.
The images also show the thieves entering through a window of the hall’s balcony, after climbing up using a mechanical lift. One of the thieves used a power saw to create a hole in the display case of Empress Eugenie’s crown, then punched the protective glass to knock it out.
The Louvre Heist in 4 Minutes
Meanwhile, his partner was trying to create a breach in an adjacent display case, and they quickly stole several pieces of jewelry.
The entire operation took less than four minutes, under the watch of a few security personnel who remained helpless observers, according to the footage.
It is noted that the value of the stolen items from the Louvre Museum last October was estimated at 88 million euros, and included a collection of prominent historical artifacts and jewels.
Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum in Paris, France, is one of the world’s largest and most visited art museums, housing iconic works like the *Mona Lisa*. It opened to the public in 1793, though its history dates back to the late 12th century when it was originally constructed as a fortress before being transformed into a royal palace.
Paris
Paris is the capital of France, historically founded as the Roman town of Lutetia in the 3rd century BC. It is globally renowned as a center for art, fashion, and culture, home to iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Apollo Hall
Apollo Hall was a historic entertainment venue located in Harlem, New York City, which opened in 1913. It became most famous starting in 1934 as the Apollo Theater, a leading center for African American performers and a critical stage for the Harlem Renaissance, launching the careers of countless musical legends.
Empress Eugenie’s crown
Empress Eugenie’s crown was the personal crown of Eugénie de Montijo, the last Empress of the French as the wife of Napoleon III. Created by the crown jeweler Alexandre-Gabriel Lemonnier for her marriage in 1853, it was notable for its diamond-set fleur-de-lis motifs and a famous pearl called the “Regent Pearl.” The crown was dismantled after the fall of the Second Empire in 1870, with its gems dispersed and the frame lost.
