The French crown jewels robbed from the Louvre museum in Paris are likely lost forever, an art crime expert tells CBS News, even if the thieves are caught.

Two traces of DNA were found in one of the helmets and one of the gloves suspects left behind after a jewelry heist at the Louvre on Sunday, French police told ABC News.

Dutch art detective Arthur Brand told the BBC he feared the jewels may already be "long gone", having been broken up into hundreds of parts. It is highly likely the pieces will be sold for a fraction of their worth and smuggled out of France, other experts have said.

The precious artifacts snatched from Paris’s Louvre Museum on Sunday include an emerald necklace gifted by Napoleon to his second wife and other priceless crown jewels.

NEW YORK (AP) — Just days after a stunning heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, speculation is growing around where the lavish, stolen jewels that once adorned France’s royals might end up.

A recent heist at the Louvre Museum resulted in the theft of over $100 million worth of France's historic jewels. Experts warn the jewels might be melted or broken into parts to avoid detection. Despite the difficulties,

A specialized police unit is investigating a brazen daytime heist of eight pieces of jewelry worth about $102 million from Paris' Louvre Museum.

Eight priceless royal jewels, including crowns and necklaces, were stolen from the Louvre in a four-minute heist.

The Louvre's director has acknowledged a ″terrible failure″ at the Paris tourist attraction after a daylight crown jewel heist over the weekend.

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.