Newly released footage captures the moment when thieves at the Louvre executed a peculiar slow-motion escape with the French crown jewels. In the video, two individuals, one in a high-visibility jacket and the other in a motorbike jacket, calmly descend a cherry picker they had installed outside the museum, without encountering any resistance. Shortly after this daring smash-and-grab heist of nine priceless artifacts, the pair made their getaway on motorcycles, evading capture. Despite five days passing since the £76 million robbery, authorities have yet to apprehend any suspects, drawing criticism from opposition politicians in France who labeled the incident a “national humiliation.”
Only one of the stolen items, Empress Eugenie’s crown, was recovered after reportedly being dropped by the thieves. The remaining stolen artifacts, including a tiara worn by Empress Eugenie, a sapphire diadem, a necklace and earring set associated with 19th-century French queens, an emerald necklace and earrings from Empress Marie-Louise, a reliquary brooch, and a large corsage-bow brooch, are still missing, raising concerns that they may have been dismantled for illegal sale.
Following the theft, the Louvre reopened to the public with heightened security measures in place. The museum’s director, Laurence des Cars, admitted a “terrible failure” in security and acknowledged the lack of adequate CCTV coverage around the premises during a hearing with the senate’s culture committee.
In a separate development, a British art authenticator, Curtis Dowling, claimed to have been contacted by individuals offering substantial sums to authenticate what he believes to be the stolen jewels from the Louvre. Dowling received calls from individuals in Russia and the Middle East on the day of the heist, indicating potential attempts to sell the stolen items. Despite lucrative offers, Dowling declined involvement, expressing concerns about the illicit nature of the transactions and the risks involved in dealing with stolen goods.
Curtis Dowling, known for his role in the CNBC show “Treasure Detectives,” emphasized the rapid turnover of stolen items in the underground market, cautioning against involvement in such transactions.