PARIS, Oct 19: In a minutes-long strike on Sunday inside the world’s most-visited museum, thieves rode a basket lift to the Louvre, forced a window into the Galerie d’Apollon – while tourists pressed shoulder-to-shoulder in the corridors – smashed display cases and fled with priceless Napoleonic jewels, officials said.
It was among the highest-profile museum thefts in recent memory and comes as Louvre employees have complained of worker and security understaffing.
One object was later found outside the museum. French daily Le Parisien reported it was the emerald-studded crown of Napoleon III’s wife Empress Eugénie – gold, diamonds and sculpted eagles – recovered just beyond the walls, broken.
Around 9:30 am, several intruders forced a window, cut panes with a disc cutter and went straight for the vitrines, officials said. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the crew entered from outside using a basket lift.
The thieves are believed to have approached via the riverfront facade, used a freight elevator to reach the hall, took nine pieces from a 23-item collection linked to Napoleon and the Empress, and made off on motorbikes, Le Parisien reported. (AP)
