[Aaargh20318]

Even if it was relatively simple and security was lax you have to question why they targeted the Louvre.

You can’t fence these items because of how high-profile they are. You can melt them down and sell the gold, but you’d destroy a lot of the value by doing that. Because it’s such a high-profile target you know a lot of resources will be allocated to track you down. You’d think that there be much safer targets to rob that wouldn’t draw as much attention and would provide similar returns.

[harambae]

1) It’s always possible a rich person hired them ahead of time to steal specific items (that’s why you sometimes see way more “expensive” in theory items that are completely ignored in these heists — without a buyer ahead of time they’re worthless) Though in this particular case I think it was a crime of opportunity, but idk

2) You could potentially sell it to someone overseas who doesn’t care. There are rumors of a Gardner Heist (Boston) painting hung up on MBS’ yacht

[PleasureBot]

Usually these items are used as bargaining chips by organized crime. The state agrees to drop the multiple homicides and RICO charges (or whatever the French equivalent of that is), they return the Crown Jewels.

[IAmBroom]

Citation needed: "usually".