Three months have passed since the audacious jewel theft at the Musée du Louvre captured global attention. Now, CCTV footage from the museum on that notorious day has been made public. The three-minute video was aired on the investigative show Complément d’Enquête on France TV, illustrating how two burglars deftly entered and exited the Apollo Gallery with the nation’s crown jewels.
The footage begins with approximately five security guards at the gallery’s entrance, cautiously advancing before dispersing as the first thief entered via a window using a portable circular saw. Dressed entirely in black with a high-visibility construction vest, he headed directly for the main display cases containing the jewels, soon joined by an accomplice who climbed through behind him.
While the thieves began cutting into the cases, a guard returned with a stanchion, a metal bar often used for crowd management. Another guard took the bar, seemingly intending to deter the robbers but instead rejoined the staff and exited the room. Unfazed, the initial thief smashed through the glass with his hands, pocketed the jewelry, and aided the second thief with another case.
As they fled through the window, a crown and another jewel fell from the first thief’s pockets. He retrieved them, and both quickly left the premises using a stolen basket crane to descend to ground level. Several arrests have been made in connection with the heist, with the primary suspects allegedly admitting partial involvement, but the jewels remain missing.
This incident has highlighted the outdated security measures at the Louvre, generating criticism of the security staff for their lack of intervention. The museum has stated that their staff is trained to safeguard visitors and is not equipped to confront thieves. The footage release aligns with ongoing union strikes at the museum, which have caused partial and full closures as workers demand better wages and increased staffing.
