The Heist

Need I say more? You already knew that I was going to write about the theft of the Napoleon III Jewels at the Louvre. I decided to write about it with the first announcement and then I could not avoid it, looking at French, U.S., British, and German press.

Everyone loves to read about art thefts, as I do. They seem to happen on a regular basis. Probably the most famous one being the theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911, which was, obviously, eventually recovered. There have been a number of less serious burglaries that have happened there since, the most recent being the theft of a small landscape by Corot in 1998.

Seizing on some interesting details by putting many of these articles together:

The value of the jewels was put at one hundred and two million dollars immediately after the robbery though they were not insured since the Louvre like many other major museums are self-insured since values of their collections would be too great for any commercial insurer.

One camera outside the Louvre was facing in the wrong direction. Does that mean there was help from the inside by either reporting this fact to the thieves beforehand or, actually moving it before the robbery?

The perpetrators wore yellow vests looking like construction workers reached the second floor using an electric ladder from a truck, though they had brought kerosene to burn the truck with any evidence, in their rush they neglected to do so.

They broke through a glass panel in the door into the Apollo Gallery, threatened visitors and two guards to clear the gallery, broke into the case got out with 8 pieces and escaped on motorcycles, in case you are interested they were Yamaha TMASX models.

In the process they dropped a crown during their escape. It was created in 1855 for Princess Eugénie, Napoleon III’s wife with nearly 1,400 diamonds and 56 emeralds. which I would guess, though damaged, was both the most important, identifiable and valuable piece taken. The three other thieves were probably not happy with their colleague who dropped it!

The remaining pieces are so well known they would be most difficult to sell so there is the fear that the jewels will be removed and then still difficult to move as they have been cut in the manner of the 19th century. An expert diamond cutter would have to be found to make them look like modern cutting. Of course, any such desecration will erase some royal French history. Adding my two cents there are collectors with hidden collections who may have paid the thieves in advance. In that case how much less would they pay without the missing crown?

Immediately after the robbery occurred the excuses and blame commenced. The government had not funded enough guards; the cases for the jewels were new and not equipped with enough security devices; dysfunctional alarms (which has been contradicted by French officials); too few perimeter cameras as well as the afore mentioned misfocused camera. The Louvre Director, Laurence des Cars, then submitted her resignation but, refreshingly, it was not accepted. Because of the notoriety and it was, after all, the Louvre a government enquiry has naturally begun.

The police had taken 150 DNA samples and within days one suspect who had a record was apprehended at the airport, then another was arrested and shortly after another 5, though there was no sign of the missing jewels. One of the 5 was believed to be the third of the four thieves and, ostensibly the others were those behind the theft. According to the Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, the first two “partially confessed” with no explanation. I had to ask myself whether that was like being a little bit pregnant!

As of the end of last week she added, “Brick by brick, the investigation is taking shape and closing in on those who may be involved”. Interpret that as you may but there is no doubt we will be hearing more as the days and weeks go by.