Louvre Heist Yields 150 Evidence Pieces in $100M Jewelry Theft

Authorities investigating the daring $102 million jewel heist at the Louvre have collected over 150 pieces of evidence, including fingerprints and DNA traces found on a helmet and glove left behind by the thieves, which are now being analyzed to identify suspects. A video from inside the museum shows two thieves escaping via a cherry picker and motorbikes, aiding investigators in their manhunt. The heist has spotlighted longstanding underfunding issues at the Louvre, with museum workers and reports citing deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate security coverage, and reduced specialized safety staff, which contributed to the vulnerabilities exploited by the thieves. Experts note that much of the museum's security is largely performative, relying on a social contract of visitor respect that has eroded over time, leaving many parts of the building insufficiently guarded. The small size and weight of the stolen jewels facilitated the quick and clean getaway, raising concerns that the stolen items may be dismantled and sold piecemeal. Despite the museum director's offer to resign over security flaws, she was retained by the Minister of Culture as investigations continue.