🔗 Share this article Is France Able to Recover Its Priceless Historic Jewels – Or Is It Too Late? Police in France are making every effort to locate extremely valuable treasures taken from the Louvre Museum in a brazen daytime heist, yet authorities have warned it could be impossible to save them. Within the French capital over the weekend, burglars broke into the top tourist attraction worldwide, taking eight valued items and getting away using scooters in a audacious theft that was completed in under ten minutes. Dutch art detective a renowned specialist stated publicly he believes the stolen items are likely "already dismantled", having been broken up into many fragments. It is highly likely the artifacts could be sold off for a small part of their true price and illegally transported from France, other experts noted. Who May Be Behind the Robbery The perpetrators are experienced criminals, as the detective stated, as demonstrated by the way they managed through the museum of the building in record time. "As you might expect, for an average individual, one doesn't just get up overnight planning, I should become a criminal, and begin with the world-famous museum," he explained. "This isn't their first heist," he said. "They have done things before. They're self-assured and they thought, we might get away with this attempt, and proceeded." In another sign the skill of the gang is considered significant, a dedicated task force with a "high success rate in solving significant crimes" has been given responsibility with locating the perpetrators. Law enforcement have said they suspect the theft relates to a criminal organization. Sophisticated gangs like these usually pursue two main goals, French prosecutor a senior official said. "Either they operate on behalf of a sponsor, or to acquire precious stones to conduct financial crimes." The detective suggests it seems highly unlikely to market the jewels intact, and he said targeted robbery for an individual buyer is a scenario that typically occurs in movies. "Few people wish to acquire an item so hot," he explained. "It cannot be shown to acquaintances, you cannot leave it to heirs, you cannot sell it." Possible £10m Worth Mr Brand believes the stolen items will be dismantled and broken up, including the gold and precious metals liquefied and the gems cut up into smaller components that will be nearly impossible to track back to the Paris heist. Historical jewelry specialist Carol Woolton, who presents the audio program focusing on gemstones and formerly worked as the famous fashion magazine's jewellery editor for many years, explained the robbers had "carefully selected" the most significant gemstones from the Louvre's collection. The "magnificent exquisite jewels" would likely be dug out from the jewelry pieces and marketed, she explained, excluding the headpiece of the French empress which features less valuable pieces mounted in it and was considered "too hot to handle," she explained. This might account for why they left it behind as they got away, along with another piece, and recovered by police. The imperial headpiece that was taken, has rare natural pearls which command enormous prices, experts say. Even though the pieces have been described as being beyond valuation, the expert believes they will be disposed of for a minimal part of their true price. "They will go to buyers who are able to take possession," she explained. "Everyone will be looking for the stolen goods – they'll settle for whatever price is offered." The precise value might they bring as payment if sold on? Concerning the potential value of the haul, the detective stated the dismantled components may amount to "many millions." The gems and taken gold could fetch approximately ten million pounds (€11.52m; $13.4m), stated by an industry expert, managing director of an established company, a digital jewelry retailer. He told the BBC the gang would need a trained specialist to remove the gems, and a professional diamond cutter to modify the more noticeable pieces. Minor components that couldn't be easily recognized would be disposed of quickly and despite challenges to determine the specific worth of every gem removed, the larger ones may amount to about £500,000 each, he explained. "There are a minimum of four comparable in size, thus totaling all of those together with the precious metal, it's likely approaching ten million," he concluded. "The jewelry and luxury goods trade is liquid and plenty of customers operate on the fringes that don't ask regarding sources." Some optimism remains that the items might resurface intact one day – although such expectations are narrowing with each passing day. Similar cases have occurred – the Cartier exhibition at the London museum includes a piece of jewelry taken decades ago before reappearing in an auction many years after. Definitely is many in France feel profoundly disturbed by the Louvre heist, having felt a cultural bond toward the treasures. "There isn't always appreciate jewelry because it's a question of authority, and that doesn't necessarily have a good connotation in France," a heritage expert, head of heritage at French jeweller Maison Vever, stated