Police searching for thieves of precious stones from the Louvre in Paris may not be able to return the items to the museum because they can be quickly cut up and sold, Reuters reported, citing experts.
"If a Van Gogh painting is stolen, there is no other way to sell it than on the black art market. When jewelry is stolen, it is possible to sell it through the black market as precious stones," cultural heritage crime expert Mark Balcells told the agency.
The agency explains that diamonds can be cut into smaller gems and gold can be melted down, thus leaving buyers unaware of their origin.
