Looted Louvre treasures may never be found, experts say

The Louvre Museum successful Paris announced it would stay closed arsenic investigations proceed into Sunday's bonzer theft of historical jewellery – and experts opportunity nan prospects of recovering nan treasures are slim.

In a station connected X, nan depository said it regretted Monday's closure, arsenic France originates to digest nan implications of nan brazen heist successful which robbers made disconnected pinch artefacts from nan French crown jewels, making love from nan Napoleonic era.

There are besides concerns they will beryllium trim down and sold by nan gang, aliases person already been shipped extracurricular France.

How did nan heist happen?

The thieves utilized a truck-mounted ladder to summation entree to nan Apollo Gallery, 1 of nan astir ornate rooms successful nan Louvre, done a window.

Armed pinch devices including an perspective grinder and a blowtorch, they targeted 2 high-security show cases.

The full cognition lasted conscionable 7 minutes, authorities said, pinch nan suspects fleeing connected motorcyles.

Among nan items taken from nan Louvre was a gem and sapphire jewellery group including a tiara and necklace worn by Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense.

The diadem – a jewelled headpiece worn by royalty – features 24 Ceylon sapphires and 1083 diamonds that tin beryllium detached and worn arsenic brooches, according to nan Louvre.

Also stolen was an emerald necklace and earrings group that was a wedding gift from Napoleon to his 2nd wife, Marie-Louise of Austria, successful March 1810, containing 32 intricately trim emeralds and 1138 diamonds.

Eight of nan 9 items taken stay unaccounted for.

Wider implications for France

French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin admitted that nan Louvre heist exposed information failings astatine nan museum.

"One tin wonderment astir nan truth that, for example, nan windows hadn't been secured, astir nan truth that a handbasket assistance was connected a nationalist road," he said connected France Inter radio. "What is definite is that we person failed."

"The French group each consciousness for illustration they've been robbed," he said.

Elaine Sciolino, writer of Adventures successful nan Louvre: How to Fall successful Love pinch nan World's Greatest Museum, emphasised nan value of a robbery astatine nan Louvre, which was primitively built arsenic a wall earlier becoming a palace for nan French royal family.

"This onslaught really is simply a dagger into nan bosom of France and French history," she said.

Will nan jewellery beryllium recovered?

Natalie Goulet, a Centrist personnel of nan French senate, told CNN connected Monday that she believes nan jewellery has astir apt already been taken retired of nan country.

"I deliberation that nan pieces are already abroad," she said. "I deliberation it's mislaid forever."

Goulet besides appeared connected BBC Radio astir nan prospects of recovering nan jewellery, replying: "None."

"The jewellery will beryllium trim up and sold and utilized arsenic a money-laundering system," she said. "It's nan easiest measurement to cleanable soiled money."

The robbery was astir apt linked to organised crime, Goulet said.

Christopher Marinello, nan laminitis of Art Recovery International, said that if nan thieves are conscionable looking to get rate retired arsenic quickly arsenic possible, they mightiness melt down nan precious metals aliases recut nan stones pinch nary respect for nan piece's integrity.

"We request to break up these gangs and find different approach, aliases we're going to suffer things that we are ne'er going to spot again," Marinello said.

The astir well-known robbery astatine nan Louvre took spot successful August 1911, erstwhile Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa coating was stolen disconnected nan museum's walls by handyman Vincenzo Peruggia.

It was 24 hours earlier anyone moreover noticed nan Mona Lisa was missing, pinch artworks often removed to beryllium photographed aliases cleaned.

A bungling constabulary investigation past dragged connected for 2 years earlier nan coating was recovered successful December 1913, making it nan astir celebrated artwork successful nan world.

More recently, a activity by French creator Camille Corot was stolen from its framework successful 1998 and has ne'er been found.

More caller heists astatine different European museums see nan theft of 4 ancient golden artefacts from a depository successful nan Netherlands successful January.

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