Located 300 Meters from the Museum
Uncertainty Over Future Exhibition
Five days after losing artifacts worth 140 billion won to theft, the Louvre Museum in France has transferred some of its exhibited jewelry to the central bank.
According to French media outlet RTL on the 24th (local time), part of the Louvre Museum's jewelry collection was moved to the central bank, located 300 meters away, under heavy police escort that morning. While the specific details of the transferred jewelry have not been disclosed, it is reported that the items included jeweled crowns from the Apollo Gallery, where the theft occurred, as well as jewelry exhibited in other galleries.
On the 22nd (local time), visitors lined up in front of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, which reopened its doors. Paris, France ? Photo by TASS Yonhap News
The relocated jewels are now stored in a vault 26 meters underground within the central bank. This vault houses 90% of France's gold reserves and also contains Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks. It remains unknown whether the jewelry entrusted to the central bank will be displayed again at the Louvre Museum.
The Louvre Museum theft, which shocked the world, occurred at around 9:30 a.m. on the 19th. At that time, a group of four thieves parked a ladder truck against the Louvre's exterior wall facing the Seine River, broke into the Apollo Gallery on the second floor by smashing a window, and stole eight royal treasures in just seven minutes before fleeing. The stolen items include an emerald necklace and earrings gifted by Napoleon I to his wife, Empress Marie Louise; a crown, tiara, and brooch worn by Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III; and sapphire tiaras, necklaces, and earrings belonging to Queen Marie Amelie and Queen Hortense from the 18th century. The value of these items is estimated at approximately 88 million euros (about 146 billion won). Among the stolen items, Empress Eugenie's crown was dropped by the thieves near the scene and recovered by the police.
After closing for two consecutive days following the incident, the Louvre Museum reopened three days later, after its regular closure on the 21st. Laurence des Cars, the museum's director, subsequently appeared at a Senate hearing and requested the establishment of a police station within the museum.
The French prosecution is working to identify the thieves and track their whereabouts. Laure Beccuau, Paris chief prosecutor, stated in a media interview, "More than 150 pieces of evidence, including DNA and fingerprints, have been collected," adding, "The results of the evidence analysis are expected within the next few days."
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