According to Paris prosecutors, around 9:30 am on Oct. 19, four masked individuals stole nine pieces of displayed jewelry within minutes. One of them, a crown belonging to Empress Eugénie, has been recovered by the police, while the remaining eight pieces are still missing.
French prosecutors in Paris stated on Oct. 21 that eight pieces of jewelry stolen from the Louvre Museum remain missing, with estimated economic losses reaching €88 million.
Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau emphasized that the €88 million represents only the financial loss, while the historical damage caused by the robbery is incalculable. She warned the criminals not to dismantle or melt down the jewels to sell them.
Since the Louvre heist, public scrutiny over the museum's security protocols has intensified.
Addressing parliamentary inquiries on Oct. 21, French Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot-Dati asserted that "the security systems at the Louvre did not fail." Louvre management also informed French media that new display cases installed in December 2019 represented "significant progress" in security measures.
Related News:
Nine pieces of jewelry stolen from Louvre Museum: Thieves use angle grinder to threaten security
Deepline | France's Louvre Museum heist: Napoleonic-era jewels stolen in daring raid
Comment