New footage that allegedly shows the Louvre museum jewel thieves’ getaway on Sunday indicates that they made it out of the museum at roughly the pace of a mall escalator that’s seen better days.
You can see the footage here, where it was shared by U.K. outlet The Telegraph, citing “social media” sources. It’s also been shared around social media, including this upload from an X account called “Open Source Intel” and by the New York Post.
In the video – apparently taken from inside the iconic French museum (formerly a royal residence) – figures in bright yellow jackets are seen in the carriage of an extendable ladder, slowly making their way down to street level. Vehicles pass them by on the street even as people yelling in the background of the video call for police.
According to France 24, the thieves parked a truck with the extendable ladder below the Apollo Gallery window shortly after the museum opened on Sunday. Under broad daylight, they climbed up the ladder and used “cutting equipment” to get through the window. Once inside, they grabbed “eight priceless pieces” from display cases. These included an emerald-and-diamond necklace that Napoleon I gave his wife, Empress Marie-Louise, and a diadem with nearly 2,000 diamonds that once belonged to the Empress Eugénie.
Other items stolen include Empress Eugénie’s diamond bow brooch; another brooch with diamonds and gold made for the same Empress and a diamond and sapphire set with a tiara, earrings and necklace from Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense, per CBS News.
A Sunday X post from the museum, described on its website as the largest in the world, confirmed the robbery.
“After the robbery that the Louvre suffered yesterday, the museum regrets to inform you that it will remain closed to the public today,” the Louvre said in a follow-up post on Monday. “Visitors who have already booked their tickets will be refunded.”
France 24 reported Wednesday that the museum had reopened. That day, French President Emmanuel Macron ordered a “speeding up” of security measures at the museum. The Louvre is a major tourist destination, with 8.7 million visitors reported last year alone.
While the estimated value of the jewels stolen in the heist is $100,000, government spokeswoman Maude Bregeon said the loss of France’s historical heritage, was greater, France 24 noted. Bregeron also said “thieves would not pocket the full windfall if they had “the very bad idea of melting down these jewels.”
That’s what a 24-year-old Chinese woman allegedly did with gold nuggets worth more than $1.5 million stolen last month from Paris’ Natural History Museum, France 24 said. French authorities announced that the woman was detained this week after she was arrested in Barcelona, Span, “while trying to dispose of nearly one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of melted gold pieces.”
Stephen Portier, master jeweler and Parisian gem appraiser, said the Louvre jewels’ value will drop by 90% if they are taken apart and sold as stones and metal, according to CBS News.
With another high-profile robbery reported last month of two dishes and a vase from a museum in the central city of Limoges, France, estimated at $7.6 million, there is an increasing spotlight on security measures at French museums, France 24 said. Louvre Director Laurence des Cars faced questioning by a cultural committee at the French Senate Wednesday over the issue.
A report from France’s Court of Auditors also indicates there has been a “persistent” delay in security upgrades at the Louvre and earlier this year, Des Cars reportedly warned Culture Minister Rachida Dati of a an urgent need for renovations. Labor unions have also complained about staff cuts amid growing museum attendance.
“Museums are increasingly targeted for the valuable works they hold,” said the Central Office for the Fight against Trafficking in Cultural Property,” as cited by France 24.
This week, investigators are on the hunt for the jewel thieves and scouring video in an effort to track down the culprits. France 24 said they are “working on the theory that it was an organized crime group.” In addition to the seemingly slow-paced getaway, the thieves also reportedly dropped a diamond crown as they made their escape from the Louvre. CBS said that crown belonged to Empress Eugénie.