A German company, accidentally involved in the robbery of the Louvre Museum after the thieves used one of its products, has used the incident to launch a new advertising campaign.
The German company Becker (Böcker) published on social networks now a photo of a mobile ladder on trucks, used for, for example, moving, extending to the first floor balcony of one of the most visited and popular museums in the world.
It was precisely such a ladder that the thieves used to reach the floor where the Apollon Gallery is located, from which they took eight precious objects on October 19th, in broad daylight.
"When you need to move fast," the German company says under a photo.
"The Becker Agilo transports your goods weighing up to 400 kilograms at a speed of 42 m/min - as quiet as a whisper."
Footage has emerged of alleged thieves escaping on a mechanical ladder after stealing French jewels worth an estimated €88 million.
Look HERE a graphic depiction of the great robbery of the Louvre that shocked France.
Watch the video: This is how the thieves escaped from the Louvre
"When it became clear that no one was injured in the robbery, we used a little humor to advertise the family business," Aleksandar Becker, the company's CEO, told AFP.
"Theft is, of course, absolutely reprehensible, that's completely clear."
"It was an opportunity to use the most famous and visited museum in the world to attract some attention for our company," he said.
Social media users reacted enthusiastically to the advertisement.
"Marketing geniuses" and "great, that's German quality", "your message wins the crown (one of the stolen items is a crown that belonged to a former French queen)", were the comments.
I recognized my company's device from news reports, and it was sold "a few years ago to a French buyer who rents this type of equipment in and around Paris," Becker told AFP.
Allegedly, jewelry thieves asked to be shown how the machine worked last week, then stole it during the demonstration, claims a German businessman.
The thieves arrived at the Louvre on the morning of October 19, shortly after the museum opened and visitors began moving through its corridors.
In seven minutes, the thieves ransacked the gallery and fled with some of the most valuable French artworks that belonged to the rulers.
Among the eight stolen items were tiaras, necklaces, earrings and brooches adorned with thousands of diamonds and other precious stones.
Watch the video: These are some of the jewels stolen from the Louvre
The Louvre reopened on October 23, three days after the theft that shocked France.
The museum director then admitted that the Louvre did not react early enough to stop the theft and that video surveillance was weak and outdated.
"We have betrayed these jewels," said Laurence de Carce, adding that "no one is safe from theft - not even the Louvre."
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told French radio station Europe 1 that he was "firmly convinced" the thieves would be caught.
The robbers acted on the orders of a criminal organization, the prosecutor's office said.
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