An attendant on duty at the Louvre during the theft of eight of France's crown jewels described the shocking scene as no-one could have been prepared. The incident began with a loud, metallic noise, which the staff initially misinterpreted as an angry visitor. However, it turned out to be thieves using an angle grinder to break into the Gallery of Apollo, home to the historic collection of jewelry.
Within eight minutes, the gang managed to steal treasures worth an estimated €88 million. They accessed the gallery using a mechanical ladder mounted on the back of a lorry. As chaos ensued, the attendant spotted one of the criminals wielding what appeared to be a chainsaw and quickly warned her colleagues to evacuate.
Despite her initial confusion and fear, the attendant's decisive actions allowed for the safe evacuation of visitors from the gallery. After raising the alarm, the team secured surrounding galleries to prevent further thefts.
In the aftermath, another employee noted a strong smell of petrol outside the museum, suggesting the thieves may have intended to set their getaway vehicle on fire. Remarkably, a piece they meant to steal, Empress Eugenie's crown, was found on the ground, suggesting a hasty escape.
The museum's director addressed the issue of security vulnerabilities, pointing to years of underfunding and inadequate surveillance measures, which have left the Louvre exposed to such risks. This incident has prompted renewed discussions about enhancing security protocols in one of the world’s most renowned museums.
