Former Jewelry Thieves Analyze Recent Louvre Heist
Ex-convicts provide insights into the recent $100 million jewelry theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
In the wake of the recent $100 million jewelry heist at Paris' Louvre Museum, former jewelry thieves have offered their perspectives on the audacious crime.
Larry Lawton, who served over 11 years in federal prison for a series of jewelry store robberies in the 1980s and 1990s, emphasized the importance of meticulous planning and insider knowledge. He suggested that the perpetrators likely had internal assistance, stating, "Let me tell you, they had an inside person." Lawton also noted the thieves' apparent lack of expertise, pointing out that they left behind items containing DNA traces and even dropped a valuable crown during their escape.
Joan Hannington, known in the 1980s London underworld as "the Godmother" for her diamond thefts, concurred with the inside job theory. She remarked, "It's got to be an inside job," highlighting the thieves' detailed knowledge of the museum's security lapses. Hannington also commented on the ease with which the stolen gems could be dismantled and sold individually, potentially making their recovery more challenging.
The heist, which occurred on October 19, 2025, involved intruders breaching a second-floor window of the Louvre and escaping with more than $100 million in royal jewels and crown diamonds in under seven minutes. The stolen items included eight precious objects, such as a royal sapphire necklace, a royal emerald necklace with matching earrings, and a diadem worn by Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. The museum has since reopened, with the Apollo Gallery, where the theft took place, remaining closed as investigations continue.
French authorities are under scrutiny for the security lapses that allowed the heist to occur. President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the theft as an attack on national heritage and has promised to recover the stolen items. The incident has also sparked discussions about the need for enhanced security measures in cultural institutions to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Source
The New York TimesFact-checking
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