88 million euros worth of artworks stolen from the Louvre Museum
A theft occurred at the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris, France. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This incident deeply affected the entire country. The prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Culture are evaluating this event not only as a material loss but also as a historical loss.
Prosecutor Laurent Becque emphasized that the total value of the stolen items is estimated at approximately 88 million euros. According to him, although this is a large sum, the historical damage cannot be measured in money.
The incident took place on the morning of October 19. The thieves used a mechanical lift to reach the second floor of the Louvre Museum, opened a window, and entered the Apollo Gallery.
Within a short time, they stole eight unique artworks. Among the stolen items were the royal sapphire necklace, emerald earrings, and the diadem of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III.
So far, the criminals have not been apprehended. The investigation is being conducted against an organized criminal group.
The prosecutor's office reported that the number of investigators has been increased from 60 to 100. According to special experts, such thefts are often carried out not for the cultural or aesthetic value of the artwork, but to break them down or melt them for sale.
Prosecutor Becque confirmed this view, stating that if the items are burned or divided into parts, it will be impossible to restore their true value. According to investigation data, the thieves threatened and pushed aside a person who came for an inspection under the pretext of "moving" the electric lift installed on a truck to take it away.
Interestingly, the person who rented out this lift later filed a report at a police station 35 kilometers from Paris. According to the French Ministry of Culture, the stolen items were not insured.
This is common for state collections because the insurance cost is very high. Ministry representatives emphasize that the state itself acts as the insurer and cases of damage to such artworks are rare.
Paris police are assessing this crime as the largest cultural loss in the country's history over the past decade. The Louvre Museum administration stated that they do not destroy the stolen artworks and have not lost hope of recovering them.
