A video circulating on social media shows thieves stealing priceless French crown jewels from the Louvre in broad daylight on Sunday.
In a short cellphone video, a person wearing a bright yellow vest can be seen tampering with a display case at the world-famous museum in Paris.
According to France 24, the thieves drove up to the Louvre on scooters, entered the Galerie d’Apollon using an extendable powered ladder, and broke through the window and display cases with angle grinders.
The Culture Ministry said eight artifacts were stolen, including a necklace Napoleon gave his wife, Empress Marie Louise, and the diadem of Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III.
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They also attempted to steal Eugenie’s crown, but it was later found near the museum in a “damaged” state.
The Paris prosecutor’s office said the thieves were likely hired to steal specific items or carried out the crime to sell the gems for money laundering purposes.
French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to recover the artifacts and bring those responsible to justice. He added that the Louvre will tighten its security measures.
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