<h1>Louvre crown jewels stolen; investigators warn gems may be dismantled and dispersed, complicating recovery and heritage protection.</h1> A coordinated daylight theft removed eight state owned crown jewels from the Louvre's Galerie d'Apollon, items of high monetary value and distinctive provenance. The Paris prosecutor launched a criminal inquiry with about 100 investigators. Investigators warn the jewels may be dismantled and dispersed into illicit international markets, frustrating traceability and recovery and raising challenges for cultural heritage protection, asset tracing, and institutional security and accountability.