Overview
- The Paris prosecutor opened an inquiry as roughly 60 investigators and forensic teams review CCTV and highway footage for four suspects who fled on scooters.
- Authorities say eight Napoleonic-era pieces are missing from two cases, with an official list released that includes tiaras, necklaces, earrings, and brooches.
- A crown attributed to Empress Eugénie was dropped near the museum and recovered damaged; no injuries were reported as visitors were evacuated and the site was secured.
- Investigators say the thieves entered through a second-floor window of the Galerie d’Apollon using a truck-mounted basket lift and cutting tools before escaping within minutes.
- The heist has intensified scrutiny of museum security, with ministers acknowledging failures and auditors citing delayed surveillance upgrades as the government orders stronger protections for cultural sites.