French police are desperate to retrieve priceless jewels stolen from the Louvre in a brazen daylight robbery, but experts have warned it may already be too late to save them.
In Paris on Sunday, thieves broke into the world's most-visited museum, stealing eight valued items before escaping on scooters, in a daring heist that took about eight minutes.
Dutch art detective Arthur Brand told the BBC he feared the jewels may already be 'long gone', having been broken up into hundreds of parts.
Other experts suggest it's highly likely the pieces will be sold for a fraction of their worth and smuggled out of France.
Who May Be Behind the Heist
Mr. Brand believes the group was composed of professionals, evidenced by their expedient operation. They likely have professional burglary histories and may be linked to an organized crime network.
Authorities have deployed a specialist police unit known for cracking high-profile robberies, and Mr. Brand mentioned that DNA evidence left at the scene could help to apprehend the culprits.
Potential £10m Price Tag
Brand contends that the stolen objects will most likely be dismantled, with the gold and silver melted down and the gems sold in smaller, untraceable pieces. Estimates suggest the haul could be worth up to £10 million.
Experts confirm that the gems are likely to be cherry-picked and resold for much less than their original value, with past thefts suggesting a potential reappearance in auctions years later.
As days pass, hopes for recovering the jewels intact are dwindling, leaving many in France feeling a deep emotional loss.
