Louvre heist fears - Museum's most valuable jewels to be hidden underground
Photo: the Louvre’s jewels being transported for safekeeping to the Bank of France (Getty Images)
After the heist at the Louvre, the museum transferred some of its most valuable jewels into the custody of the Bank of France, a bank whose gold-and-foreign-currency reserves are stored underground, according to Reuters.
After the robbery at the Louvre, several valuable items from the museum’s Apollo Gallery, home to France’s royal jewels, were transported on Friday under the protection of special security forces.
According to Reuters, the Bank of France is located just 500 meters from the Louvre. Its gold reserves are kept in a deep underground vault, and now some of the museum’s artifacts will be stored there as well.
Both institutions have so far declined to comment.
Louvre heist
France’s most famous museum, the Louvre, was robbed on October 19. The thieves stole eight valuable items worth about $102 million, breaking into the Apollo Gallery that houses French imperial jewels from the era of Napoleon.
The robbers entered during visiting hours and escaped on motorcycles. The incident exposed serious security flaws at the Louvre and sparked nationwide concern in France.
Although no arrests have yet been made, French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said that the investigation is ongoing.
Earlier, it was reported that on October 22, the Louvre reopened for the first time after the robbery, which caused an estimated €88 million in damages.
