The theft from the Maison des Lumières in Langres is the latest in as string of cultural institution heists in France.

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.

Is a Fedora-wearing French detective solving the Louvre heist? Social media certainly seems to think so, as an image of a so-called sleuth has gone viral online, with people online speculating that he is on the case to recover the jewels stolen in the brazen robbery.

PARIS — The glittering sapphires, emeralds, and diamonds that once adorned France's royals could well be gone forever, experts said Tuesday after a brazen, four-minute heist in broad daylight left the nation stunned and the government struggling to explain a new debacle at the Louvre.

In 1962, the Countess of Paris attended the wedding of fellow European royalty in Queen Marie-Amélie’s sapphires—which were snatched in what has become one of the worst thefts of its kind.

Officials say suspects used a truck-mounted basket lift and power tools to carry out the brazen Sunday morning theft at the world’s most-visited museum.