German Engineering Meets Art Theft: How a Bocker Elevator Facilitated the Louvre Museum Heist

Furniture elevator utilized by robbers for accessing the Louvre Museum in Paris on October 19

Dismiss France: The Louvre Museum jewelry heist exemplifies German engineering efficiency at its finest.

Images of a German-manufactured freight elevator employed by thieves during a rapid daytime heist at the Louvre have become viral sensations. The manufacturer is now experiencing unexpected promotional benefits.

Alexander Bocker, managing director and third-generation proprietor of Bocker Maschinenwerke GmbH, informed The Associated Press that upon seeing the online images with his wife, they were "shocked that our lift had been misused for this robbery."

"After the initial shock dissipated, dark humor prevailed," he communicated via email to the AP.

According to authorities, the thieves spent under four minutes inside the Louvre on Sunday morning. They positioned the freight elevator against the museum, ascended the facade in the basket, forced a window open, shattered display cases, seized invaluable Napoleonic jewels, and escaped through central Paris on motorcycles.

The German company quickly recognized a marketing opportunity. By Monday morning, Bocker's enterprise had created a social media post featuring the freight elevator - typically utilized for furniture and construction - with a German slogan translating to "when something needs to be done quickly."

The post highlights the "Bocker Agilo" capability to transport up to 400 kilograms (882 pounds) of "your treasures" at 42 meters (46 yards) per minute. Additionally, it operates "whisper quiet" thanks to its 230 Volt E-Motor, according to the post.

"We anticipated some attention and humor, but the response was overwhelming," Bocker wrote Thursday. "I understand not everyone appreciates this humor, but the vast majority found it tremendously amusing."

However, Bocker emphasized that the freight elevator is not authorized for human transportation.

Crown jewels, certainly. Thieves, definitely not.