Priceless Jewels Stolen from the Louvre About 30 minutes after opening on October 19, thieves rode a basket lift up the side of the Louvre in Paris, forced open a window, smashed display cases and ran away with priceless Napoleonic jewels, officials said. No one was hurt. Alarms brought Louvre agents to the gallery, forcing the thieves to run, but the theft was already done. French Culture Minister Rachida Dati described it as a professional "four-minute operation." According to officials, eight objects were taken, including an emerald necklace belonging to Napoleon Bonaparte's second wife, Empress Marie-Louise. One object, the imperial crown of Empress Eugénie, Napoleon III's wife, was later found outside the museum, French authorities said. The crown, which contains over 1,300 diamonds, was reported to have been recovered broken. The Louvre closed for the rest of the day for the police investigation to begin. Daylight robberies during public hours are rare, and this was among Europe's most audacious in recent history. It occurred as the Louvre has struggled with growing crowds, with workers' unions saying mass tourism leaves too few eyes on too many rooms. Security around the Louvre's most important works remains tight — the Mona Lisa sits behind bulletproof glass in a climate-controlled case — but this daylight theft made it clear that not all of the museum's 33,000-plus objects have the same level of protection. Officials have described the stolen pieces as of "inestimable" historical value. And recovery may be difficult. "It's unlikely these jewels will ever be seen again," said Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds. "Professional crews often break down and re-cut large, recognizable stones to evade detection." Key questions still unanswered are how many people took part in the theft and whether they had inside assistance, authorities said. According to French media, there were four people involved: two dressed as construction workers on the lift, and two on scooters. Investigators are reviewing security camera footage, inspecting the basket lift used to reach the gallery, and interviewing staff who were on site when the museum opened, authorities said.