Two individuals have been arrested in connection with a theft of valuable crown jewels from the Louvre Museum in Paris, according to reports from French media. The suspects, hailing from the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris, were apprehended as one was allegedly preparing to board a flight at Charles de Gaulle Airport.
The theft occurred on a Sunday, when a group of four suspects, equipped with power tools, executed a break-in during daylight hours. The items stolen hold considerable significance, raising concerns about the security measures at what is known to be the most-visited museum in the world. France’s justice minister acknowledged that existing security protocols were insufficient, which has led to criticisms regarding the country’s image in terms of safety and cultural protection.
The suspects, identified as having prior records for burglary, were taken into custody on Saturday evening. They are currently under investigation by specialized police, who are authorized to question them for up to 96 hours.
The burglary reportedly unfolded shortly after the museum’s opening at 09:30 AM local time. The thieves used a vehicle-mounted mechanical lift to access the Galerie d’Apollon via a balcony adjacent to the River Seine. Reports indicate that two of the criminals gained entry by cutting through a window with power tools. Once inside, they threatened security personnel, prompting an evacuation, and proceeded to break into two display cases containing the stolen jewels.
A preliminary investigation disclosed that one out of three rooms in the museum area targeted lacked CCTV coverage, highlighting potential areas of concern for security practices. French police noted that the thieves spent only four minutes inside before escaping on two scooters positioned outside at 09:38 AM. In response to this incident, officials have announced enhanced security measures around cultural institutions throughout France.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2em38pdv0do?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss