Louvre jewel heist captured on camera as thieves breach Apollo Gallery
New surveillance footage aired on French TV shows two masked burglars using a basket lift to break into the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery, slicing display cases and stealing nine pieces of jewelry valued at about $102 million; a crown reportedly dropped during the escape and, so far, none of the jewels have been recovered. Four suspects are in custody. The security breach exposed gaps (about 35% of Denon Wing rooms aren’t monitored by cameras) and noted that the jewels were not insured under French law. Louvre staff are trained to evacuate visitors rather than confront thieves, and unions are pressing for more staff as strikes shut the museum at times; investigators are relying on DNA and camera footage in ongoing probes.