The Louvre museum, found in the midst of Paris’ dynamism, has long been recognized as a staple of preserved antiquities. Showcasing a plethora of history’s most exclusive masterpieces, the museum has developed a reputation for its quality displays and iconic pyramid entrance. On Oct. 19, the art museum was forced to close prematurely after the occurrence of an unprecedented jewelry heist, only minutes after opening their doors for the day. Four disguised individuals performed a set of coordinated schemes in order to obtain jewels that once belonged to French royalty, the value stolen totaled to about 88 million euros or $102 million.
However, the public was quick to realize how comical the specifics of the heist were compared to common presumptions. The robbery was executed informally, creating a peculiar combination of meticulous planning and humorous series of events. Despite completing the robbery in under eight minutes and being categorized as one of the most high-profile thefts in written history, the general public deem it almost theatrical and humorous when excluding the stakes at hand.
“When I first heard [of the heist], I assumed it would be some sort of serious situation that makes us all jump out of our seats. And it still is that, but it has almost become a meme with how hilarious the whole process was. Like, ‘how [did they] rob the Louvre and just drop a crown’,” freshman Valeria Florentino said.
On the day of the heist, the culprits arrived at the rear of the museum in a rented trunk and dressed in construction wardrobe to create the illusion of employed renovators. After setting up a series of traffic cones and reaching an access point with a ladder, they cautiously gained entry by tampering with a glass window. As the security unit received notice from the window’s alarms and began to evacuate visitors, the criminals maneuvered disc cutters in order to neatly cut two displays and swiftly grab the Napoleonic jewelry. Shortly after the criminals exited through their previous entry point and escaped on a pair of mopeds, the imperial crown of Empress Eugenie was found on the streets of Paris, likely dropped during the mayhem of their departure.
“They were very smart for taking the jewels that could be melted and resold rather than the Mona Lisa, that was right there. But it was so badly done, I think my friends and I could have teamed up and stolen more,” freshman Lianis Torres said.
Within the next hour, a variety of laughable factors involving inadequate surveillance, a comical attempt at a getaway and the concept of a renowned heist taking place in broad daylight, began circulating across the internet. As the demand for camera footages arose, Louvre officials announced that the single camera that could have captured the thieves was pointed the opposite way, a convenient advantage for the disguised. However, they quickly contrasted their cautious measures by failing to conceal their DNA, leaving various remnants that circle right back to the culprits.
Despite the flaws throughout the execution of their plan, their escape was the most cumbersome, confirming their future detainment. After miraculously losing the trail of government officials in the Paris havoc, they dropped and permanently damaged the crown of Empress Eugenie, an antique of value that could reach tens of millions of dollars.
“It’s one of those things that you just wouldn’t even think, to rob the Louvre…its the kind of thing you didn’t think would even be possible, but it’s possible. The Louvre hasn’t been on the news or been highlighted in a long period of time and the press, whether it’s positive or negative, is still good,” Mr. Miller said.
The consecutive amount of mistakes transpiring within a less than 15 minute time frame automatically turn the profound theft into a mockery, especially in today’s society that is heavily intrigued by entertainment and quippy headlines. The amount of publicity a story gets relies on the audience, the uniqueness of this robbery has shifted the focus away from the invaluable jewelry and towards the narrative of the burglars.
“I’ve always loved art ever since I was little and as a girl I obviously loved jewelry. It’s insane how they were able to [get away with the heist], even if it was just for a small time. Part of me was kind of rooting for them and I almost wish I thought of it sooner,” freshman Maria Ventura said.
Securing its place as one of the most influential heists of modern French history, the recent chain of events at the Louvre combine a high-profile felony and source of public entertainment. The combination of boldness, planning and sheer luck allowed the two criminals to pull off a feat that felt almost like an unreachable goal. However, the multitude of errors made throughout the process made their victory short-lived, as officials have collected DNA evidence found on the scene.
