Watch: Louvre Thieves Capture Their Slow-Motion Escape on Video Using Furniture Lift!

Two thieves made a daring escape from the Louvre with €88 million worth of France’s crown jewels, and their getaway was caught on video. This heist is being called one of the most spectacular in decades.

In a 36-second clip verified by Le Parisien, two men in black attire were seen using a furniture lift to descend from the museum’s Apollo gallery. One wore a yellow safety vest, while the other donned a motorcycle helmet. The footage appears to be filmed from a nearby window, showing their stolen truck parked on Quai François Mitterrand. They used an extendable ladder to access the first-floor gallery.

As the thieves prepared to flee on scooters, a voice, possibly from a security guard, warned over a walkie-talkie: “They are going to leave.” Moments later, they sped away just as police arrived.

The brazen theft occurred on a Sunday morning shortly after the museum opened. The two intruders broke in by smashing an apparently unsecured window and quickly used disc cutters to access two display cases. They stole eight priceless pieces, including an emerald and diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon I to his second wife, Marie Louise, and a diadem that once belonged to Empress Eugénie.

Reports suggest the whole operation took less than seven minutes. The thieves were inside the gallery for just under four minutes. In the aftermath, France’s interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, revealed that over 100 investigators are now on the case.

The director of the Louvre, Laurence des Cars, addressed the incident and called it a “terrible failure,” admitting there was “highly insufficient” surveillance on the museum’s exterior.

Interestingly, over the past year, art thefts in Europe have seen a concerning uptick. According to a recent report from the Art Crime Museum, art thefts increased by 20% in 2022 compared to the previous year. Experts believe that increased demand for black-market art is driving this surge. The Louvre, known for its rich history and treasure trove of art, is now at the center of this alarming trend.

Social media reactions have exploded following the incident. Users are expressing shock and disbelief at the audacity of the thieves, with many questioning the museum’s security measures. Trends show hashtags like #LouvreHeist gaining traction, highlighting public fascination with art crime, reminiscent of the notorious Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist in 1990, where over $500 million worth of art was stolen and remains missing.

With the ongoing investigation and a heightened spotlight on security in cultural institutions, this heist might trigger changes in how museums protect their treasures, ensuring history does not repeat itself.

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