‘Minister states, “We have not succeeded,” as France grapples with Louvre robbery.’

The security systems at the Louvre museum in Paris “failed” to avert a significant jewellery theft, resulting in a “terrible image” for the nation, commented France’s justice minister.

In a bold daylight robbery on Sunday, thieves equipped with power tools infiltrated the globe’s most frequented museum, making off with eight items deemed of priceless worth, and then fleeing on scooters.

Advisers to the interior minister stated that security protocols are being ramped up at France’s cultural venues.

Concerns loom that if the thieves are not apprehended swiftly, the invaluable pieces, which include a diamond and emerald necklace originally given by Emperor Napoleon to his spouse, may be disassembled and illicitly trafficked out of the country.

The Louvre declared it would stay closed on Monday as inquiries progressed.

Reports from French media indicate that a draft assessment by the Court of Auditors, set to be released in November, revealed that a third of the rooms in the section where the theft occurred lack surveillance cameras.

“What is evident is that we have indeed failed, as perpetrators were permitted to park a furniture hoist in the heart of Paris and elevate individuals within moments to seize invaluable gems,” Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin shared on France Inter radio.

He expressed confidence that law enforcement would ultimately apprehend the culprits.

However, the leader of an organization focused on locating and retrieving stolen art pieces cautioned that if the thieves aren’t caught within the forthcoming 24-48 hours, the pilfered jewellery could very likely be “long gone”.

“A race is currently underway,” proclaimed Chris Marinello, CEO of Art Recovery International, during an interview on the BBC World Service’s Newshour program.

Crowns and diadems stolen in the heist are easily disassembled and sold in smaller quantities.

According to Mr. Marinello, the thieves “will not retain them whole – they intend to dismantle, melt down the precious metals, recut the valuable stones, and eliminate traces of their wrongdoing,” emphasizing that selling these jewels in their original state would be challenging.

The French police “are aware that if these robbers are not apprehended in the next 24 or 48 hours, those items are probably long gone,” he stated.

“They may apprehend the perpetrators, but the jewels will remain unrecovered.”

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez acknowledged “a significant vulnerability” within the security of museums in France.

The resolution to enhance security across the nation’s cultural sites was reached on Monday following a sit-down with law enforcement and ministers, including Nuñez.

French President Emmanuel Macron characterized the robbery as an “assault on a heritage that we hold dear as it embodies our history”.

Nathalie Goulet, a member of the French Senate’s finance committee, described the incident as a “very painful” chapter for France.

“We are all frustrated and infuriated,” she expressed during her appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today program, adding that it is “challenging to comprehend how this could have unfolded so effortlessly”.

Goulet pointed out that the alarm system in the gallery had recently been malfunctioning, and “we must await the investigation to determine if the alarm was disabled”.

The dismantled jewels would potentially be “utilized within a money laundering scheme,” she surmised.

“I don’t suspect we are dealing with amateurs. This is a part of organized crime, and they possess absolutely no morals. They view jewelry solely as a means to launder their illicit funds, not as historical artifacts.”

The heist transpired between 09:30 and 09:40 local time on Sunday morning, shortly after the museum opened its doors to the public.

Four masked robbers employed a truck fitted with a mechanical lift to access the Galerie d’Apollon (Gallery of Apollo) through a balcony adjacent to the River Seine.

Images captured at the scene displayed a vehicle-mounted ladder ascending to a first-floor window.

Two thieves utilized a battery-powered disc cutter to break through glass panes and gained entry to the museum.

They then threatened the security personnel, who evacuated the facility.

The criminals shattered glass display cases and seized the jewels, which boasted thousands of diamonds and precious stones collectively.

The entirety of the robbery was completed in approximately eight minutes.

As alarms within the museum began to sound, employees adhered to protocol by alerting security forces, as reported by the culture ministry in a statement.

The perpetrators attempted to ignite their vehicle outside, but a museum staff member intervened, preventing the act.

In total, eight pieces of jewellery were stolen, including an emerald and diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon to his wife, Empress Marie Louise.

Also taken was a diadem (jewelled headpiece) that once belonged to Empress Eugénie – the wife of Napoleon III – which features nearly 2,000 diamonds.

Additionally, a necklace which belonged to Marie-Amelie, the last queen of France, containing eight sapphires and 631 diamonds, was among the items stolen.