‘Possibly experienced foreigners’: French minister gets new lead on Louvre thieves who committed seven-minute heist – The Times of India

There was a sixth season Money robbery? Many thought the story was over, but the popular series continued for a sequel in Paris on Sunday. French police are searching for four masked robbers who pulled off a daring jewel heist in broad daylight at the Louvre, stealing imperial jewels described as “priceless” and “of immeasurable heritage value.””The thieves struck quickly and accurately, moved calmly and left virtually no trace in one of France’s brazen museum robberies at a site visited by nine million people every year.Nuñez, the French interior minister, said the thieves were “clearly a team that had done their homework.” He confirmed that the raid took place in “just seven minutes” and described the robbers as “an experienced team, possibly foreigners.”

A seven-minute robbery

The robbery took place between 9:30 and 9:40 a.m. local time on Sunday, just after the museum opened to the public. The four thieves arrived on two high-powered TMax scooters and used a vehicle-mounted lift to access the first-floor Galerie d’Apollon, which houses France’s crown jewels.Two of them cut through a glass window with a battery-powered disc cutter while others stood guard. Once inside, the masked men threatened the guards and smashed two display cases containing the royal collection. Within seven minutes they had fled with eight valuables before staff could intervene.

‘Quiet’ and ‘experienced’ thieves

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said the robbers “entered calmly” and seemed “experienced” and well prepared for their escape. “The vulnerability of museums is a long-standing problem,” she told TF1. “These museums must be adapted to new forms of crime.”According to the ministry, the gallery’s local alarm did not function properly, while the broader museum alarms did go off. Five security guards were in the gallery at the time and immediately evacuated the visitors when police were contacted.

What items were stolen?

Among the stolen treasures were pieces that once belonged to French monarchs and imperial rulers. Authorities confirmed that the stolen items included:

Each item is considered historically priceless. Two objects, including Empress Eugénie’s crown, were later found near the museum and had apparently fallen during the escape. They are examined for possible damage.

A flawed security system?

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin admitted that the incident exposed shortcomings in French museum security. “What is certain is that we failed because people could park a furniture lift in the middle of Paris, get people into it in a matter of minutes to grab precious jewels and give France a terrible image,” he told France Inter radio.Natalie Goulet, member of the French Senate’s finance committee, called it a “very painful” moment for the country. “We are all disappointed and angry,” she said. “It’s hard to understand how it could happen so easily.”

Will the jewels ever be seen again?

The theft caused political outrage. President Emmanuel Macron called it “an attack on our history” and promised that “everything will be done” to catch the perpetrators. Far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella described the raid as an “unbearable humiliation” and asked: “How far will the breakup of the state go?” Marine Le Pen called it ‘a wound to the French soul’.Experts fear that the jewels will never be found intact again. “They’re not going to keep them intact,” said Chris Marinello, CEO of Art Recovery International. “They are going to take them apart, melt down the valuable metal, re-cut the valuable stones and hide the evidence of their crime.”Tobias Kormind, director of 77 Diamonds, said recovery would be difficult. “These jewels are unlikely to ever be seen again,” he said, explaining that professional crews often destroy recognizable pieces to erase their provenance.

Robberies through the ages

The Louvre has faced similar security challenges before. In 1998, a painting by Camille Corot titled Le Chemin de Sèvres was stolen and never recovered. The museum’s most famous work, the Mona Lisa, was also stolen in 1911 and recovered two years later.The latest heist comes amid a series of thefts in French museums. Last month, thieves stole porcelain worth €9.5 million from the Adrien Dubouché Museum in Limoges, and in November last year armed robbers raided the Hieron Museum in Burgundy, escaping with millions in art.

Museum open or closed?

The Louvre remained closed on Monday as the investigation continued, with police securing entrances and erecting metal barriers around the glass pyramid. In a message on its website, the museum said visitors with pre-booked tickets would receive a refund. Since it is closed every Tuesday, the earliest possible reopening may be Wednesday.