Expert Says Stolen Louvre Jewels Need to Be Recovered in 24-to-48 Hours or They're 'Long Gone': Report By Liam Quinn

The valuable jewels stolen from the Louvre Museum might never be recovered if not found soon, an expert warned.

Thieves stole millions of dollars worth of jewelry from the iconic Paris museum during a stunning seven-minute heist on Sunday, Oct. 19, PEOPLE previously reported.

Jewels stolen from the Galerie d’Apollon include a matching emerald necklace and emerald earrings worn by Marie-Louise, the second wife of Napoleon, as well as a tiara and large brooch that belonged to Empress Eugénie, among several other valuables, Reuters reported.

The thieves, who used small chainsaws and angle grinders to get to the targeted room, according to AFP, have not yet been caught.

The BBC spoke to Chris Marinello, the CEO of Art Recovery International, who said that if the thieves aren’t apprehended in 24 to 48 hours, the stolen jewels will likely not be found.

“[Police] know that in the next 24 or 48 hours, if these thieves are not caught, those pieces are probably long gone,” Marinello told the outlet. “They may catch the criminals but they won’t recover the jewels.”

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Marinello said the thieves will likely break up the pieces, melt down any valuable metal and recut valuable gemstones, thus hiding evidence of the crime. He further noted that it would be difficult to sell the jewelry if kept intact.

Le Parisien reported that police believe four people were involved in the heist. Two wore yellow vests, posing as workers at the museum, while the other two rode scooters.

Also stolen, according to Reuters, were a sapphire tiara, a sapphire necklace and a single sapphire earring worn by Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense, as well as a brooch known as the “reliquary brooch.”

The museum remains closed as an investigation into the potentially “organized crime” continues.