Louvre Heist: How Thieves Stole ‘Priceless’ Jewels in Broad Daylight | WSJ

Security Breach - Louvre Museum experienced a robbery involving crown jewels, leading to evacuation [1] - Four individuals used motorcycles, a truck with a portable furniture elevator, and angle grinders to break into the museum [2] - The thieves were in and out of the gallery in under 7 minutes [3] - Museum officials had previously raised concerns about the building's weak security [6] Stolen Items - Stolen jewels include diadems, necklaces, earrings, and brooches, described as priceless by French authorities [4] - A crown belonging to Empress Euenei with nearly 1,400 diamonds was dropped and damaged during the escape [4] Historical Context - The Louvre has experienced previous thefts, including the 1911 Mona Lisa theft and the 1983 theft of Renaissance armor [4][5] - In 2010, Paris's modern art museum was targeted, resulting in the theft of over $120 million worth of artworks [5] Recovery Challenges - Experts warn that the stolen jewels are too famous to be sold and may be dismantled [6] - French authorities are in a race against time to recover the jewels [1]