First, came the Louvre heist. Then came the memes

"PARIS It was the heist heard around the world. So naturally, it was only a matter of hours before it transitioned into memes seen around the internet. Four masked thieves. Nine "priceless" pieces. All stolen in less than seven minutes, from the world's most famous museum. The Oct. 19 daylight robbery at the Louvre has already been compared to a Dan Brown novel or the latest installment in Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's film franchise."

"Authorities, meanwhile, are still looking for answers. French police say the investigation continues, with about 100 people working on the case. Investigators say they've collected more than 150 trace samples including DNA and fingerprints left on gear abandoned at the scene which are now being analyzed by forensic experts in Paris. One twist came earlier this week when Empress Eugenie's diamond-and-gold encrusted crown one of the stolen items was found damaged near the scene, apparently dropped or abandoned during the thieves' escape."

"The estimated value of the items is $102 million (88 million euros), though France's interior ministry described the jewels as "priceless." France's culture minister called the theft a "humiliation." The museum's director admitted that the heist "was not inevitable," acknowledging the failure of its security. The Louvre's protection systems are expected to face more scrutiny in the coming weeks, particularly as questions grow about the lack of security cameras in the museum's Apollo Gallery, where the robbery took place."

On Oct. 19, four masked thieves executed a daylight robbery at the Louvre, seizing nine imperial jewels in under seven minutes. The theft quickly generated widespread online memes and cultural references. French authorities assigned about 100 people to the investigation and collected more than 150 trace samples, including DNA and fingerprints from gear abandoned at the scene, now under forensic analysis in Paris. Empress Eugenie's diamond-and-gold crown was recovered damaged near the escape route; eight other jewels remain missing. Officials described the items as priceless, called the theft a humiliation, and noted security failures and scrutiny of the Apollo Gallery.

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