Gone in seven minutes: gang of audacious thieves grab priceless jewels from Louvre

Empress Marie Louise. Other jewels stolen included a sapphire necklace and sapphire earrings which had been worn by Napoleon’s stepdaughter, Hortense, who became the queen of Holland, and which was also worn by the 19th century queen of the French, Marie-Amélie.

- 

The French interior minister, Laurent Nuñez, visited the scene and told France Inter radio that “priceless” jewels “of unmeasurable heritage value” were stolen in what was clearly a well-organised raid by professional criminals.

The thieves struck at 9.30am local time yesterday and Nuñez said it took them seven minutes to make off with the jewels.

The thieves approached the building from the outside, at an area where building work was taking place.

A truck and a basket lift were used to access the museum. They used an angle grinder and power tools to break windows and enter.

Nuñez said it was the work of “an experienced team who had clearly scouted the location”.

He said that the suspects had fled - their escape route was known and police were investigating whether it was a gang known to them for other crimes.

The gilded Apollon gallery, whose ornate decoration was commissioned by “the sun king”, Louis XIV, contains a set of historic crowns, diadems and sovereign jewellery.