UPDATE: A woman aboard a flight made headlines after watching a heist film only to learn of a real jewel robbery at the Louvre upon landing. Just hours after viewing Ocean’s 8, Katie Dungar received notifications about a dramatic theft that occurred in Paris on October 21, 2023.
The surreal coincidence has captivated social media users, with Dungar’s post on Threads garnering over 32,000 views since yesterday. “Getting off that plane and immediately receiving notifications about a jewel heist at the Louvre was kind of wacky,” she wrote.
In a brazen daytime heist, thieves made off with several historic items from France’s Crown Jewels collection in just seven minutes. The Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum, was forced to shut down as the suspects fled on a motorbike through the streets of the French capital.
Among the stolen treasures is a pearl and diamond tiara commissioned in 1853 by Napoleon III for Empress Eugénie. This exquisite piece, featuring over 200 pearls and nearly 2,000 diamonds, had become one of the empress’s most recognized possessions. Also taken was a diamond bow brooch, valued at $10.7 million, which the Louvre had purchased for its collection.
Notably, these jewels were not insured, and France’s culture ministry stated that the state would not be reimbursed for the loss of items that possess “inestimable heritage and historical value.”
By Wednesday, the Louvre reopened its doors, but its director described the theft as “a terrible failure at the Louvre, which I take my share of responsibility in,” according to reports from the Associated Press.
The bizarre timing of Dungar’s movie choice sparked reactions online, with users sharing their own eerie experiences of coincidental media consumption. One commenter noted, “I watched Conclave on a flight a week before the Pope died. Your timeline is better!” Others chimed in with similar stories, adding a layer of intrigue to the unfolding drama.
As the investigation continues, authorities are on high alert for the suspects, who remain at large. The art world watches closely as the fallout from this brazen heist unfolds.
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