Louvre Heist: Inside Job Suspected in $76m Art Theft

Detectives investigating the heist of France's crown jewels from the Louvre museum have discovered evidence of an inside job. The thieves, disguised as maintenance workers, used a 90ft furniture elevator to gain entry to the Apollo gallery, stealing eight priceless pieces in a matter of minutes. The gang's inside knowledge of the museum's security system, believed to have been leaked by a member of the security team, allowed them to evade detection.

Key Takeaways:

• Digital evidence suggests that a member of the Louvre's security team was in contact with the thieves before the heist, leaking sensitive information about the internal security system.
• Thieves used a 90ft furniture elevator to gain entry to the museum's Apollo gallery, which they accessed by posing as maintenance workers.
• The gang made off with eight pieces of France's crown jewels, including several priceless works of art.
• Over 150 DNA samples have been recovered, and detectives have confirmed that an inside job is one line of enquiry.
• The police investigation is being led by the Banditism Repression Brigade of the Judicial Police, in conjunction with the Central Office for Combating Trafficking in Cultural Property.
• Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor, has confirmed that dozens of DNA samples have been found at the gallery, including on helmets, gloves, angle grinders, and a vest abandoned by the robbers.

Statistics:

• Over $76m worth of art was stolen from the Louvre museum.
• Eight pieces of France's crown jewels were stolen from the Apollo gallery.
• 150 DNA samples have been recovered from the scene of the crime.
• 100 detectives are working on the investigation, led by the Banditism Repression Brigade of the Judicial Police.
• 2 Yamaha TMAX scooters were used by the gang to escape Paris, according to CCTV footage.

Sources:

• The Telegraph
• Ouest France
• The Louvre museum