Jewels worth 88 million euros stolen, prosecutor said

Jewels stolen from the Louvre in Paris in a daring daytime heist are valued at 88 million euros (£76 million; $102 million), a French prosecutor said, citing the museum’s curator.

Laure Beccuau told RTL radio that the sum was “extraordinary”, but said the greater loss was to France’s historical heritage. Crown jewels and items given by two Napoleons to their wives were among the items taken.

Thieves brandishing power tools took less than eight minutes to make off with the loot shortly after the world’s most visited museum opened on Sunday morning.

Since the thieves were not caught more than two days after the robbery, experts fear that the jewels are long gone.

Ms Beccuau said she hoped announcing the estimated value of the jewelery would make thieves think twice about destroying it.

She added that the thieves would not have pocketed the entire windfall if they had “the very bad idea of ​​melting down these jewels”.

The items taken, previously described as being of inestimable value, included a diamond and emerald necklace given by Emperor Napoleon to his wife, a tiara worn by Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, and several items previously owned by Queen Marie-Amelie.

Investigators found a damaged crown that had belonged to Empress Eugenia on the thieves’ escape route – apparently dropped as they made a hasty getaway.

Four masked thieves used a truck equipped with a mechanical lift to gain access to the Galerie d’Apollon (Gallery of Apollo) through a balcony near the Seine River.

Two of them cut through a glass display case on the first floor using a battery-operated circular saw and enter the museum. Then they threatened the security inside, who evacuated the building.

The thieves attempted to set fire to their vehicle from outside, but were prevented by the intervention of a member of museum staff. They were seen leaving on scooters.

French President Emmanuel Macron described the robbery as an attack on France’s heritage.

Security was tightened around the country’s cultural institutions after a preliminary report found that one in three rooms at the Louvre did not have CCTV and that its wider alarm system had not gone off.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanen said security protocols had “failed”, complaining that the thieves who managed to get a modified truck to the museum had left France with a “terrible image”.

Authorities believe they are after a team of professionals given how fast and organized they were.

Art Restoration Experts previously told the BBC investigators only had a day or two to track down the items before they could be considered missing forever.

That’s right they are most likely spoiled in precious metals and gems smuggled out of the country and sold for a fraction of their value, other experts said.