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.
It is highly likely the pieces will be sold for a fraction of their worth and smuggled out of France, according to other experts.
Who May Be Behind the Heist
The group were professionals, Mr Brand believes, as demonstrated by the fact they were in and out of the Louvre so quickly.
You know, as a normal person, you don't wake up in the morning thinking, I will become a burglar, let's start with the Louvre, he said.
Authorities suspect the heist is linked to an organized crime network, indicating the thieves likely have criminal records and are known to the police.
Police on Monday submitted a vest and equipment left at the scene for analysis, suggesting DNA evidence could potentially lead to the capture of the thieves.
Organized crime groups generally have objectives such as benefiting a sponsor or obtaining precious stones for money laundering operations.
Potential £10m Price Tag
Mr Brand believes the objects will be dismantled, with gold melted down and gems cut up to avoid identification.
Jewelry historian Carol Woolton noted the robbers likely targeted the most important gemstones from the Louvre's collection.
They will go to someone who is willing to handle these, Woolton added regarding the potential market for the stolen items.
According to experts, the items could collectively be worth close to £10 million if sold on the black market.
While hopes for the items' return remain, they diminish with each passing day. The emotional attachment of the French public to these jewels adds another layer to the ongoing investigation.
