HEIST OF THE CENTURY!

Daring daytime thieves take priceless jewels from Paris Louvre

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The Louvre was closed for three days after thieves entered the museum's Apollo Gallery from outside via a mechanized lift

"What is certain is that we have failed" Gérald Darmanin, Minister of Justice of France

A GANG of four thieves is being credited with one of history's most skillful robberies — looting the world-famous Louvre in Paris of a glittery trove of priceless crown jewels while tourists stood nearby.

Masked criminals reportedly disguised as construction workers used a basket lift to get up to a second-floor window of the museum. They broke in using mini gas-powered chain saws, threatening a security guard in the process. As alarms blared, footage from inside shows one criminal cutting through a glass case as visitors watched.