Louvre Jewel Heist: Thieves Caught on Camera Escaping Calmly With $102 Million Loot

A shocking 36-second video has surfaced, offering a rare glimpse into one of the boldest art thefts in recent times. It shows the €88 million (£76 million) crown jewel heist at Paris's Louvre Museum. Verified by Le Parisien, the clip captures two men in black calmly escaping after raiding the Apollo Gallery.

The Apollo Gallery houses some of France's most prized royal treasures. The video has drawn worldwide attention, showing the thieves' surprisingly relaxed movements. Despite the immense value and historic importance of the stolen jewels, they appear unfazed, highlighting the meticulous planning and audacity behind the heist that has shaken the museum and authorities alike.

The Heist Caught on Camera

Filmed from a nearby window, the video shows the thieves slowly descending on a furniture lift from the gallery's broken window, which police confirmed was forced open earlier that morning. One of the men steps off the lift, adjusts a bag over his shoulder, and walks toward two scooters parked along Quai François Mitterrand.

A voice, likely from a museum security guard's radio, can be heard saying, "They are going to leave."

Seconds later, another voice remarks, "Damn, there we go-the police."

Faint sirens are heard in the background as the thieves disappear from view.

Inside the Theft

Investigators revealed that two members of a four-person gang carried out the robbery. Using disc cutters, they smashed open two glass display cases and stole eight historic jewels in less than seven minutes.

Among the stolen items are an emerald and diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon I to Empress Marie Louise and a diadem once owned by Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III. These are priceless artifacts of France's imperial history.

Authorities also discovered an abandoned utility truck near the museum. It was equipped with a 30-meter extendable ladder and basket lift, demonstrating the careful planning behind the heist.

Response and Investigation

France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said over 100 investigators have been assigned to the case. He described the theft as a matter of "national importance."

Louvre director Laurence des Cars called the incident "a terrible failure." She admitted that gaps in the museum's exterior camera coverage allowed the thieves to exploit a security blind spot.