Louvre museum theft: Eyewitness details scooter-riding, chainsaw-wielding robbers

As France reels in the shock of the daring theft at the iconic Louvre museum, more details emerge of the robbers, who reportedly arrived on scooters. The theft happened between 9:30 and 9:40 a.m., according to authorities.

Nine items of jewellery are missing from the Napoleon and Empress Josephine’s jewellery collection, including a necklace, a brooch, a tiara, and more. One of the jewels, believed to be Empress Eugenie's crown, was found outside the museum. The amount of the loot is currently being assessed, and the Anti-Banditism Brigade (BRB) is investigating.

An eyewitness, identified as Samir, told French newspaper TF1 Info that he saw a van park near the Louvre on the Seine side. “Two guys got on a freight elevator. They broke the window and got in," he said. "It took 30 seconds. I saw them leave on their scooters; there were four of them. I called the police right away, and the police intervened, which scared them off, and then they took the platforms. They drove straight on," he added.

Police later found a scooter and a yellow vest abandoned at the scene.

According to French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, the operation lasted almost four minutes and was very quick. "These are professionals; museums have become targets. France is a heritage country with objects of great value," she added.

Earlier, authorities said the individuals entered the Louvre Museum from the outside using a cherry picker positioned on a truck. “They broke the window and headed towards a number of display cases where they stole jewels, the list of which I won't list. They have real heritage value, inestimable in fact. They  then fled on a scooter. Bars were cut with an angle grinder. It was clearly a  team that had done reconnaissance, clearly also very experienced, and who acted very, very quickly. We are looking at three or four perpetrators," French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez-Belda said.

Investigators are currently taking samples and analysing items to try to identify the perpetrators of this burglary. The amount of damages remains to be determined, but according to Nunez, these items are "of inestimable value."

 

World