French police are desperate to retrieve priceless jewels stolen from the Louvre in a brazen daylight robbery, but experts have warned it may already be too late to save them. In Paris on Sunday, thieves broke into the world's most-visited museum, stealing eight valued items before escaping on scooters, in a daring heist that took about eight minutes. Dutch art detective Arthur Brand told the BBC he feared the jewels may already be 'long gone', having been broken up into hundreds of parts.
It is highly likely the pieces will be sold for a fraction of their worth and smuggled out of France, other experts have said.
The group were professionals, Mr. Brand believes, as demonstrated by the fact they were in and out of the Louvre so quickly. Additionally, a specialist police unit with a 'high success rate in cracking high-profile robberies' has been tasked with tracking them down, as authorities suspect the heist is linked to an organized crime network.
The potential value of the loot is staggering, with experts estimating the jewels could fetch up to £10 million on the black market if disassembled. As the days pass, hopes fade for their recovery, with the French public feeling an emotional attachment to these stolen pieces of history. The heist has raised questions about security at the world's most iconic museum, leaving many to wonder if treasures like the Mona Lisa are truly safe.
It is highly likely the pieces will be sold for a fraction of their worth and smuggled out of France, other experts have said.
The group were professionals, Mr. Brand believes, as demonstrated by the fact they were in and out of the Louvre so quickly. Additionally, a specialist police unit with a 'high success rate in cracking high-profile robberies' has been tasked with tracking them down, as authorities suspect the heist is linked to an organized crime network.
The potential value of the loot is staggering, with experts estimating the jewels could fetch up to £10 million on the black market if disassembled. As the days pass, hopes fade for their recovery, with the French public feeling an emotional attachment to these stolen pieces of history. The heist has raised questions about security at the world's most iconic museum, leaving many to wonder if treasures like the Mona Lisa are truly safe.
