NBC Boston spoke to an art theft expert who is also the director of security and chief investigator at the Gardner Museum about the logistics of this heist at the Louvre and what the thieves might be planning to do with the crown jewels. The plot was carried out just 30 minutes after the Louvre opened on Sunday morning.

Authorities were racing Monday to reassure the public about security at key cultural sites — and find the jewels stolen from the museum before they can be broken up and melted down.

The Louvre museum on Monday denied having contacted an Israeli intelligence firm to investigate after an audacious jewel heist at the French

Sunday’s robbery at the Paris museum could be the latest example of thieves targeting museums for jewels and precious metals to break down and sell on.

What we know about the Louvre jewel heist, plus a look at thefts from museums in the Philly area over the years.

Intruders entered via a basket lift using a platform mounted on a lorry, breaking a window and making off with jewels that "have genuine heritage value and are, in fact, priceless," France's interior minister said.

Thieves stole priceless jewels from the Louvre Museum in Paris. The daring daylight heist saw criminals breach a window and smash display cases. Authorities recovered a damaged crown belonging to Empress Eugenie.