On October 19, four thieves broke into the Louvre and stole over $102 million worth of priceless crown jewels. The heist lasted less than seven minutes and in broad daylight the thieves were able to disguise themselves and break into the Apollo Gallery. They imitated the appearance of renovation workers and even utilized a ladder truck to hoist themselves to the second floor of the museum. The museum’s alarm went off immediately after the thieves cut through the window and broke two display cases. Staff within the building also notified authorities however by the time police arrived on the scene the thieves had already stolen eight of Frances crown jewels and escaped on scooters. 

Though after obtaining over 150 samples of DNA, investigators were able to arrest two suspects who they think were involved in the heist. Both were known to the police for previous burglary cases and were in the process of leaving the country. The recovery of the jewels is still unknown though Arthur Brand, an art detective, states that acquiring them is “a race against time.” Brand and other experts claim how the stolen pieces which include tiaras, earrings, and necklaces, are all too unique to be sold and that it is more likely that the thieves would melt them for their gold or silver. The suspects are currently being held in custody until they can be charged for the heist. 

This heist is a disappointment for France as it seemed to many that it was incredibly easy to steal such valuable jewels from the Louvre. The country’s President, Emmanuel Macron stated how the heist felt like, “An attack on a heritage that we cherish because it is our history.” Many officials recognize that the museum’s security is lacking with understaffing and only few CCTV cameras. None of the cameras in that area directly faced the area where the heist took place.  This contributed to some difficulty in identifying the thieves as there was virtually no way to view the break-in. The occurrence of this rapid heist has demonstrated to many the issues of security within the historic museum and the need for increased protection of the relics within. The president and director of the Louvre, Laurence des Cars, commented on the event by stating how the heist was “an immense wound that has been inflicted on us.” Despite the national despair, the urgency to find the jewels has been weighing on investigators for days. However, with this recent arrest there is still hope that the jewels will be recovered.