In brief
In an unprecedented act of theft, the Louvre Museum's crown of Empress Eugenie was left damaged but nearly intact after thieves attempted to escape with it during a heist that resulted in an estimated loss of €88 million in jewels. Despite being crushed, the museum announced that the crown can be fully restored. Investigations are ongoing, with four suspects apprehended while the mastermind remains elusive.
The crown of French Empress Eugenie was left crushed after being dropped by fleeing thieves during the raid at the Louvre in October, but is now reported to be 'nearly intact' and fully restorable, according to museum sources.
The daring heist saw the theft of an astonishing 88 million euros (approximately £76 million or $104 million) in jewels, while raiders abandoned the diamond-encrusted crown of Eugenie as they fled via scooters.
Initial photographs released post-raid reveal the crown was 'badly deformed' after the culprits sawed through its glass display, causing damage as they struggled to remove it during the hasty escape. The crown is reported to have lost one out of eight golden eagles that decorated it but retains its 56 emeralds and almost all of its 1,354 diamonds.
The Louvre affirmed that the 19th-century crown would be restored to its former glory without the necessity for reconstruction, under the guidance of an expert committee led by the museum's president, Laurence des Cars.
Details emerged regarding the sophistication of the robbery; thieves gained access to the Galerie d'Apollon through a balcony using a stolen mechanical lift. They entered through windows and threatened the museum's security personnel, who subsequently evacuated the premises.
During the swift operation that lasted only four minutes, the suspects efficiently smashed through display cases, pillaging priceless jewels that belonged to French royalty. Arrests have been made of four individuals alleged to be involved in the heist, but the mastermind behind the operation has not yet been identified.
The museum has since moved remaining treasures to a highly secure vault at the Bank of France, as the investigation into the art theft continues.
