Royal Jewellery Robbery at the Louvre: Thieves Target Priceless Treasures
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A daring heist took place at the Louvre museum in France, where thieves managed to steal eight invaluable items from the historic collection of crown jewels on Sunday, October 19. Among the stolen treasures were tiaras that once belonged to former empresses and a matching emerald set gifted by Napoleon to his second wife, Marie Louise, on their wedding day. The Louvre described these items as having both immense market value and unparalleled heritage and historical significance.
The French government has launched an investigation into the brazen robbery that occurred in the Apollo Gallery of the Louvre, known for housing France’s oldest and most cherished jewels, including legendary diamonds like the Regent, Sancy, and Hortensia. The stolen items, consisting of jewel-encrusted tiaras, necklaces, earrings, and brooches, have stirred outrage and disbelief among the museum officials and the public.
Reports suggest that the heist was executed by a group of four individuals, with two posing as museum staff and using tools like small chainsaws and angle grinders to gain entry, while the other two accomplices waited on scooters outside. The entire operation reportedly lasted a mere seven minutes, highlighting the precision and planning involved in the theft. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the swift nature of the robbery in a statement to France 24.
Among the priceless pieces stolen were the Tiara of Empress Eugénie, known for its intricate design featuring 212 pearls, 1,998 diamonds, and 992 rose-cut diamonds. Additionally, decorative bow brooches and reliquary brooches belonging to Empress Eugénie were also taken. The thieves did not spare the matching sapphire set worn by French royalty, which included a tiara with 24 Ceylon sapphires and a necklace with eight sapphires surrounded by diamonds.
One of the most significant losses was seen in parts of Napoleon’s emerald wedding gift set, commissioned by the emperor for his second wife, Empress Marie Louise. The stolen set consisted of a necklace with 32 emeralds, 1,138 diamonds, a pair of emerald and diamond earrings, and a missing tiara that was substituted with turquoise stones after its original emeralds were sold. Fortunately, the Crown of Empress Eugénie narrowly escaped being stolen, sustaining damage in the thieves’ hasty retreat.
In a fortunate turn of events, the Louvre guards managed to recover the damaged Empress Eugénie crown, retaining its eight gold eagles, 1,354 diamonds, 1,136 rose-cut diamonds, and 56 emeralds. This recovery serves as a silver lining amidst the devastating loss faced by the museum and highlights the importance of heightened security measures to safeguard priceless artefacts.
While this audacious robbery at the Louvre has shocked the world, it is not an isolated incident in the realm of royal jewellery thefts. Recent history has witnessed similar crimes targeting prestigious collections, such as the $123 million jewel heist in Dresden, Germany, where 21 diamond artifacts were stolen, including historically significant pieces like a diamond-encrusted sword and a diamond hat clasp. Similarly, the theft of the Portland Tiara in England underscores the vulnerability of royal jewellery to criminal activities.
The Louvre heist serves as a grim reminder of the constant threat faced by invaluable cultural artefacts and the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect these treasures for future generations. As authorities continue their investigation into this audacious crime, the world watches with bated breath, hoping for the recovery of the stolen jewels and the apprehension of those responsible for this egregious act.