The security service of the Louvre witnessed a brazen robbery but did not attempt to stop the criminals, as shown in video footage released by the French television channel France 2. The footage shows several guards in black suits noticing one of the robbers climbing into the museum through a window and hastily leaving the hall.
Immediately after this, a second criminal entered the gallery, clad in a motorcycle helmet and armed with an angle grinder. They headed towards specific display cases, ignoring the others, and began to break into them.
Meanwhile, several guards who returned to the hall attempted to intervene. One of them, grabbing a barrier post, approached the robbers twice with the intention of stopping them, but each time retreated, not daring to take active action. In the meantime, the criminals continued their actions, paying no attention to the staff observing them.
It should be noted that the Louvre's guards are unarmed, as their work does not fall under France's internal security law.
Earlier, the TF1 channel showed another recording in which one of the robbers uses tools to break into a display case and then shatters it to steal jewelry. After that, he rushes to his accomplice to help him deal with another display case, from which they also take jewelry and escape.
On October 19, the robbers broke into the Louvre and stole nine pieces of jewelry, including tiaras, earrings, brooches, and necklaces that belonged to French queens and empresses. Among the stolen items was the damaged crown of Empress Eugénie de Montijo, which was later found and returned to the museum. The damage from the crime is estimated at 88 million euros. In connection with this incident, several suspects have been detained, five of whom have already been charged.
The Louvre, founded in 1793 and previously serving as a royal residence, remains the most visited museum in the world.
