(MENAFN) The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened its doors on Wednesday, three days after thieves carried out a daring daylight robbery, stealing French crown jewels valued at €88 million ($102 million; £76 million).

Visitors were once again welcomed from 09:00 local time (07:00 GMT), but the museum’s famed Apollo Gallery — the site of Sunday’s heist — remains off limits to the public.

According to officials, four masked assailants armed with power tools entered the museum and made off with the jewels in less than eight minutes, escaping on scooters. They have yet to be apprehended.

President Emmanuel Macron urged his ministers to accelerate new security measures at the Louvre, describing the robbery as an attack on France’s national heritage. Museum director Laurence des Cars is scheduled to appear before the French Senate’s culture committee later on Wednesday to address the incident.

A preliminary report revealed significant security lapses: around one-third of the museum’s rooms lacked CCTV coverage, and alarms in the Apollo Gallery failed to sound. Authorities have since tightened security at museums and cultural institutions across the country.

While one senator suggested the gallery’s alarm may have been deactivated or malfunctioning, the culture ministry maintained that the museum’s general alarm system did work and that staff had promptly alerted police and secured visitors.

The museum was closed after the robbery, offering refunds to pre-booked guests. One disappointed visitor, Benjamin Carbajal from Peru, said it was a “shame” to miss out but added that he understood “what happened is serious and the museum has also taken the necessary measures.”

Investigators say the thieves used a truck fitted with mechanical ladders to access the Apollo Gallery via a balcony overlooking the River Seine around 09:30 on Sunday. Two of them cut through a glass window with a battery-powered disc cutter, threatened security guards, and smashed the display cases containing the jewels.

The robbers reportedly tried to set their vehicle on fire before fleeing, but a quick-thinking staff member prevented the blaze. Surveillance footage later showed the suspects speeding away on scooters at 09:38.

Among the stolen treasures were a diamond and emerald necklace gifted by Emperor Napoleon to his wife, a tiara once worn by Empress Eugénie, and several pieces owned by Queen Marie-Amélie. A damaged crown belonging to Empress Eugénie was later recovered along the thieves’ escape route, apparently dropped during their getaway.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez expressed optimism about the ongoing investigation, saying he had “every confidence” the culprits would be caught. Prosecutors believe the heist was orchestrated by a professional criminal network.

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