The Paris prosecutor stated that the value of the stolen jewels from the Louvre is estimated at 88 million euros. More than a hundred investigators are working on the case.
According to the Paris prosecutor, the imperial jewels stolen from the Louvre on Sunday were valued at 88 million euros. This amount does not include their historical value to France.
"The criminals who stole these jewels will not earn 88 million euros if they have the very bad idea of dismantling these jewels," said prosecutor Laura Becco in an interview with RTL on Tuesday. "We can hope that they think about this and do not destroy them for no reason."
According to Becco, whose office is conducting the investigation, about 100 investigators are currently involved in the search for suspects and the jewels following the audacious theft from the world's most visited museum.
Questions Raised About Security
Earlier on Tuesday, the French Minister of Culture stated that the security system in place at the Louvre was functioning properly during the theft.
"The Louvre museum's security system did not fail, that is a fact. The security apparatus of the Louvre museum worked," said Rachida Dati to members of the National Assembly.
Her comments came after questions arose about the security of the Louvre and whether the surveillance cameras failed, as on Sunday morning the thieves used a cherry picker to reach a window of the Louvre, cut it with grinders, smashed display cases, and escaped with priceless Napoleonic jewels.
Dati stated that she had initiated an administrative investigation in addition to the police one to ensure full transparency regarding the incident, but did not provide any details on how the thieves managed to carry out the robbery, considering that the cameras were operational.
Eight Minutes to Steal Eight Items
According to officials, the robbery lasted a total of eight minutes. They spent less than four minutes inside the Louvre. According to the French Minister of Culture, this incident is a "wound for all of us."
"Why? Because the Louvre is not just the largest museum in the world. It is a showcase of our French culture and our common heritage," said Rachida Dati.
On Sunday, the theft occurred in the gilded Apollo Gallery, where the Crown diamonds are displayed. Upon the alarm signal, Louvre staff entered the hall, causing the criminals to flee, but the theft was already complete.
According to officials, eight items were stolen: a sapphire diadem, a necklace, and one earring from a set associated with the 19th-century French queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.
Also stolen were an emerald necklace and earrings from the set of Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte's second wife, a reliquary brooch, and a diadem of Empress Eugenie along with her large bow corsage brooch—a valuable imperial ensemble from the 19th century.
On Monday, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that the alarm in the museum went off when the window of the Apollo Gallery was broken.
Police arrived at the scene two to three minutes after being called by a witness to the incident, he said during a broadcast on LCI.
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