French television has shown footage of the brazen robbery of the Apollo Gallery at the Louvre for the first time. Judging by the video footage, the crime took place literally in front of dozens of museum visitors.
First footage of the Louvre heist
According to the television channel, investigators have received the first evidence from the scene—CCTV footage and videos taken by eyewitnesses.
One of the videos shows a man in a yellow vest using a grinder to cut the glass of a display case. Tourists stroll calmly in the background, unaware that they are witnessing a robbery.
The Paris prosecutor confirmed that investigators have numerous videos and called on eyewitnesses to provide possible evidence. Several items potentially linked to the criminals have already been recovered.
“One citizen reported to the judicial police that he saw one of the perpetrators throw away his yellow vest,” the prosecutor said.
“Robbery of the Year”
The incident occurred on the morning of October 19. Unknown individuals broke into the Apollo Gallery and stole jewelry belonging to the family of Napoleon I Bonaparte.
Some stolen items were recovered—among the relics found was the crown of Empress Eugénie. The remaining jewels have not yet been recovered. Police are continuing their investigation and are not ruling out the possibility that foreign nationals may have been involved in the robbery.
