Dramatic Louvre Museum Heist: $102 Million in Royal Jewels Stolen in 7-Minute Operation

The Louvre Museum, renowned for housing masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, became the scene of a sophisticated heist when two thieves escaped with priceless crown jewels.

Recently released footage captured the daring robbers, disguised in construction attire, utilizing a hydraulic lift to flee the premises after their meticulously planned theft. This was the same method they employed to break into the world's most visited museum earlier this week.

Following the theft of eight irreplaceable pieces of jewelry from the prestigious Apollo Gallery, the Louvre was forced to close on Sunday. The entire operation remarkably lasted just seven minutes.

The video reveals the audacious escape as the thieves lowered themselves from a balcony using the stolen lift, precious jewels in hand. Reports indicate they had hijacked the lift days before, disguised it, and attempted to set it ablaze—though security guards intervened. Despite this, the perpetrators remain at large with stolen treasures valued at approximately $96 million.

The stolen items are estimated to be worth over $102 million, though this figure fails to account for their immense historical significance. Experts consider these artifacts "unsellable" due to their unique nature and provenance.

Previous footage showed one robber cutting through a display case while museum visitors passed by, seemingly unaware. The targeted glass cases contained 19th-century royal French jewelry of exceptional value.

Among the stolen treasures were diadems, necklaces, earrings, and brooches adorned with thousands of diamonds and other precious gems. Specifically, the thieves took a tiara and brooch formerly belonging to Empress Eugenie, an emerald necklace with matching earrings of Empress Marie Louise, a tiara, necklace, and single earring from Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense's sapphire collection, and the historically significant "reliquary brooch," according to the French culture ministry.

As the world's most visited museum, the Louvre typically welcomes up to 30,000 visitors daily and houses over 33,000 artifacts spanning antique items, sculptures, and paintings. While the Mona Lisa remains its primary attraction, the museum also showcases other renowned works like the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

The museum reopened on Wednesday after being closed since Sunday due to the theft.