A daring heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris has led investigators to believe that an inside job was involved. On October 19, 2023, thieves stole approximately $100 million worth of priceless artifacts, including pieces associated with France’s royal history. French detectives are focusing their investigation on a security guard who allegedly communicated with the criminals prior to the robbery.
According to a report in the Telegraph, digital forensic evidence indicates that a member of the museum’s security team provided sensitive information to the thieves. A source revealed, “There is digital forensic evidence that shows there was co-operation with one of the museum’s security guards and the thieves. Sensitive information was passed on about the museum’s security, which is how they were aware of the breach.”
The brazen thieves managed to enter and exit the museum in mere minutes, utilizing a second-floor balcony that was not monitored by security cameras. They fled the scene on scooters with eight pieces of the crown jewels. Despite efforts by law enforcement, recovery of the stolen items appears unlikely as they may have been disassembled for resale.
Parisian prosecutor Laure Beccuau suggested that organized crime might be behind the operation. “We’re looking at the hypothesis of organized crime,” Beccuau stated in an interview with BFM TV, indicating that a wealthy collector could have orchestrated the theft.
Just hours after the museum heist, an additional theft occurred, with the loss of 2,000 gold and silver coins valued at over $100,000. The museum’s director, Laurence des Cars, was summoned before the French Senate, where she offered her resignation in light of the shocking events.
In response to the robbery, the most valuable national treasures stored at the Louvre have been transferred to the Bank of France for safekeeping. Among the items stolen were a sapphire diadem, a necklace, and a single earring linked to 19th-century Queens Marie-Amelie and Hortense. Also taken were an emerald necklace and earrings belonging to Empress Marie-Louise, the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as Empress Eugenie’s diamond diadem and corsage-bow brooch.
Remarkably, a significant piece, Eugenie’s emerald-set imperial crown, which contains over 1,300 diamonds, was later discovered outside the museum in a damaged but recoverable condition.
As the investigation continues, authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to the stolen artifacts. The museum and law enforcement agencies are under pressure to restore public trust following this high-profile incident, which has raised serious concerns about security protocols in one of the world’s most famous cultural institutions.