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Louvre heist: Empress Eugenie’s damaged crown found outside museum

Four thieves executed a dramatic 7-minute heist at the Louvre, stealing Napoleon’s crown jewels. Empress Eugenie’s damaged crown found outside Paris museum.

Louvre heist: Empress Eugenie’s damaged crown found outside museum
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Damaged and abandoned outside the Louvre, one of nine stolen jewels from Napoleon and Empress Eugenie’s collection was recovered following a dramatic heist that shocked France on Sunday morning (19/10). Specifically, Empress Eugenie’s crown was found damaged outside the museum. Earlier in the day, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati told television network TF1: “A jewel was found near the Louvre and an assessment process has begun.” Among the stolen items still being sought are: a jewelry set, a necklace, earrings, two crowns -one of which has been found- and a brooch, according to Le Parisien. Meanwhile, another object has been located, though it has not been disclosed which one.

Read: This is the “Apollo” Gallery that burglars hit at the Louvre: The precious jewels that were stolen (Video & Images)

Louvre: Empress Eugenie’s crown

Empress Eugenie’s crown is one of only two surviving crowns, along with that of Louis XV. According to Le Figaro, it consists of 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds. “As we were entering the gate, it closed,” a tour guide told Le Parisien, who was preparing to accompany a group of tourists to the Louvre at the time of the heist. As he describes, Empress Eugenie’s crown “is in a display case near a window.” “In the broken display case, there was the crown, a tiara, pearls, diamond brooches and a medallion,” he said. The second display case contains a “set, with necklace and tiara,” according to the guide. However, the thieves did not steal the collection’s largest diamond, the famous Regent, which weighs over 140 carats, according to an internal museum source.

“Cinematic” Louvre heist: The timeline

Four criminals ultimately carried out the heist at the Louvre museum in the French capital, as reported by Parisien. Two of the perpetrators were dressed in yellow vests pretending to be workers. The burglars arrived outside the Louvre on motorcycles and then used a mobile crane to gain access to the room they wanted. The perpetrators had their faces completely covered, wearing hoods during their entry from the Seine embankment side, where construction work is being carried out. In fact, according to a police source, they also brought small chainsaws with them.

After smashing the glass, two entered while a third remained outside to keep watch. The thieves grabbed nine jewels from Napoleon and the empress’s collection. According to the same sources, the perpetrators fled the scene on a TMax motorcycle, heading toward the A6 highway. A motorcycle was found after they escaped from the scene. “Everything happened within 7 minutes,” announced French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez.

The spectacular Apollo Gallery at the Louvre

The Apollo Gallery, which became the target of the burglars, is one of the most impressive spaces in the Louvre. There, according to Le Parisien, three historic objects are displayed, including the Regent, as well as the Sancy, a 55.23-carat diamond worn by Napoleon during his coronation, and the pink diamond known as “Hortensia,” which adorned the clothes or crowns of rulers.

The 23 jewels, which today were concentrated in one place, are divided into three categories: jewels dating from before the Revolution, including the “Regent” and “Sancy,” which were briefly placed in 1722 in Louis XV’s personal coronation crown; jewels of the First Empire, the Restoration and the July Monarchy; and jewels of the Second Empire with Empress Eugenie’s jewels.

Temporary closure for security reasons

Earlier, the Louvre’s social media announced the museum’s temporary closure for “exceptional reasons.” Meanwhile, France’s Culture Minister reported that the theft occurred as the first visitors were arriving. “A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre museum. No injuries were reported. I am on site with museum staff and police. Investigations are ongoing,” Dati wrote.

Additionally, as reported by an X user -according to SkyNews- they saw police “running near the pyramid and trying to enter the Louvre through glass side doors, but they were locked and they couldn’t get in. Everyone inside was running and banging on glass doors to get out, but couldn’t open them. Police and military police arrived.”

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