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, other experts have said.
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.
This won't be their first heist, he noted regarding the confidence of the thieves.
Authorities suspect that the heist is linked to an organized crime network, with investigators examining evidence left behind at the scene.
Potential £10m price tag
Mr. Brand believes the stolen objects will be dismantled with gold and silver melted down and the gems cut up into smaller stones impervious to identification.
Jewellery historian Carol Woolton states the robbers carefully selected the most important gemstones, indicating the opulence they'd been willing to risk. The value of the stolen items could reach £10m, according to expert appraisals.
As public sentiment rises against the theft, Alexandre Leger from Maison Vever expressed that these jewels belonged to everyone in France—an emotional blow akin to the theft of the Mona Lisa.
While hopes cling to the possibility of recovery, the grim reality remains that with each passing day, the chances narrow.
