New Delhi: Paris’s Louvre Museum was shut down on Sunday after a group of thieves stole nine pieces of jewelry collection from the Napoleon era. According to local media, the robbers arrived on a scooter and entered from the river Seine side to gain access to a goods lift before heading to the robbery.
The French Culture Minister Rachida Dati addressed the incident on social media and announced, ‘No injuries to report. I am on-site alongside the museum teams and the police. Investigations underway.’
The detailed list of the stolen items has been compiled, and the ministry confirmed that, besides their market value, the items have inestimable heritage and historical value.
A video also went viral following the robbery, as the majority of tourists were seen running out of the museum. The authenticity of the video hasn’t been verified yet, but it went viral on social media.
How do thieves commit the crime?
According to the reports, the thieves used the Seine-facing facade to enter the museum. Construction was going on on the riverside, and they gained direct access to the targeted room in the Apollo Gallery.
The French Crown Jewels were featured in the gallery, and the robbers broke the windows and stole nine pieces from the collection. They also carried small chainsaws to carry out the theft and left the spot with bikes.
There were 33,000 pieces, including antiquities, sculptures, and paintings from Mesopotamia and Egypt, and the rest from European masters. One of the top artifacts is the Mona Lisa, known as the world’s best attraction. The second on the list is Venus de Milo, followed by Winged Victory of Samothrace.
The museum also witnessed multiple robberies and attempted thefts over the years, but now the thieves found success in the crime and left all people stunned. The museum easily attracts up to 33,000 visitors a day.