The spectacular daylight theft at Paris’s Louvre Museum, which saw an estimated $102 million worth of royal jewels stolen from the famed Apollo Gallery, has escalated into a national crisis. In a high-stakes development, Louvre director Laurence des Cars has been summoned to appear before the French Senate Culture Committee on Wednesday. She will be pressed to explain the museum’s critical security lapses that allowed thieves to smash into displays and swipe nine priceless historical pieces in a matter of minutes.
As the manhunt intensifies, Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau revealed that a staggering number of police are now hunting for four main suspects, though she suggests other accomplices may be involved in the organized crime. While the monetary value is immense, Beccuau stressed the “historical loss” is far greater, expressing a desperate hope that the perpetrators will not destroy the irreplaceable jewels. French President Emmanuel Macron has personally vowed that authorities will catch those responsible for this “attack on a heritage that we cherish.”
Adding to the city’s museum security woes, prosecutors also announced a key arrest in a separate, yet similar, robbery. A 24-year-old Chinese national was apprehended in Barcelona, Spain, on September 30th, in connection with the theft of $1.7 million in gold nuggets from the Paris Natural History Museum last month. Like the Louvre raid, the thief used high-powered tools, including angle grinders, to break in, though video surveillance showed a single person carrying out the Natural History Museum burglary.
Investigators are treating both incidents as organized crimes, highlighting a terrifying new wave of professional attacks on France’s most treasured cultural institutions. The focus remains on recovering the Louvre’s legendary gems and understanding how two of the world’s most secure museums were breached with such speed and brazenness.
$102 MILLION SHOCKER: Louvre Heist Investigation Heats Up as Director is Summoned
