A window at the Louvre has become an unlikely attraction after last week’s daring daylight jewel heist at the world’s most visited museum. Tourists now gather outside the famed Paris landmark to snap photos of the window that thieves used to break into the Apollo Gallery.
The site has even become a new stop on guided tours.
“It’s a stop. I’m not sure it’s quite the Mona Lisa, but it’s a stop. It’s a new one too, so it’s nice to see,” Andrew, a tourist visiting the museum, told The Associated Press.
Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.
Point phone camera here
Some visitors are taking the moment in stride.
“We just came from Germany to see it here because we also got kind of inspired, so we plan our heist for the next year,” joked another tourist, Benedick.
While tourists laugh, French police aren’t amused. Authorities say the thieves escaped with French jewels valued at more than $100 million.
Newly released video shows two of the suspects fleeing the scene — not on foot, but using a cherry picker.
The German company that manufactures the lift, Boecker, used the unexpected attention to its advantage.
“After we knew no one was injured and our Boecker ‘Agilo’ was used, we decided to have a little fun with it on Instagram,” said company CEO Alexander Boecker. “Most people got the humor and knew we weren’t involved in the robbery.”
Boecker later published an ad showing one of its lifts in front of the Louvre with the tagline, “When you need it to go fast.”
Police say they are still searching for four suspects. DNA evidence recovered at the scene reportedly points to organized crime, though investigators have not ruled out an inside job.
