Hunt on for thieves who fled Louvre with 'priceless' jewellery

They used power tools and furniture hoist for brazen heist which took just 7 minutes

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Thieves wielding power tools scaled a furniture hoist outside the Louvre to make off with priceless jewellery from the world renowned museum on Oct 19, taking just seven minutes for the brazen daylight heist, sources and officials said.

Police were hunting the culprits on the afternoon of Oct 19, while a 19th-century crown covered in diamonds and emeralds was found damaged near the building.

The thieves used a furniture hoist and power tools to get into the gallery, which houses France’s crown jewels as well as the Mona Lisa, sources and officials said.

The crown of Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, was found broken near the museum afterwards, a source following the theft said, asking to remain anonymous.

The crown features golden eagles and is covered in 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, according to the museum’s website.

The theft — the latest to target a French museum in recent months — forced the Louvre to close for the rest of the day.