A team of thieves stole the famous crown jewels from Paris’ iconic Louvre museum on Sunday. The robbers were caught in broad daylight with tourists present, but it’s unlikely they’ll recover the priceless national treasures.
Criminologist Alain Bauer predicts that French authorities will catch the thieves, but the jewels are likely to be lost forever. “We will catch them,” he said, adding “I don’t think we will capture the jewels.”
The robbers left behind DNA evidence, including on a tiara worn by Empress Eugénie, and were found with various tools like a crane lift and power saw. However, their chances of recovery depend on whether they’re professional or amateur thieves.
The stolen crown jewels are estimated to be worth 88 million euros ($102 million), but experts believe they’d still be worth millions if broken up and sold on the black market. The theft is considered a national embarrassment for France, with security vulnerabilities identified in the museum’s Denon Wing.
French authorities acknowledge their failure to secure the treasures, saying it was possible for someone to access the site without being detected.
Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/louvre-robbery-thieves-will-be-caught-expert-says-crown-jewels-likely-lost