In what authorities are calling one of the most audacious art thefts in modern history, two thieves who stole an estimated $100 million worth of crown jewels from the Louvre were caught on camera making a remarkably slow escape — using a construction lift.

Surveillance footage released by Paris police shows two men, one wearing a bright neon safety vest and the other donning a black motorcycle helmet, calmly standing in the basket of a mobile lift as it slowly lowers them from the museum’s upper level to the ground. The lift, investigators say, was attached to a stolen construction truck parked discreetly beside the world-famous museum.

Despite the high-stakes heist, the duo appeared entirely unhurried, descending over the course of several minutes while carrying the priceless jewels. Witnesses initially mistook them for maintenance workers due to their attire and the lift’s official-looking setup — a detail authorities now believe was key to their deception.

“The composure of these suspects is astonishing,” a police spokesperson said. “They executed the theft in broad view, with movements so casual that they blended in with normal museum activity.”

The daring theft reportedly took place during early morning hours when the museum was closed to the public but undergoing light maintenance work. The jewels, part of a special royal collection temporarily displayed at the Louvre, are believed to include several diamond-encrusted crowns and rare gemstones with immense historical value.

Authorities have launched an international manhunt in coordination with Interpol, suspecting that the thieves may already have links to a professional art-smuggling network. Forensic teams are examining the truck and lift, both of which were found abandoned several blocks away from the museum.

The Louvre, one of the most visited museums in the world, released a brief statement condemning the theft and confirming that security procedures are under internal review. “The museum is cooperating fully with law enforcement,” the statement read. “We remain committed to recovering these priceless treasures and strengthening our protection protocols.”

As investigators pore over footage and gather leads, experts note that the thieves’ unorthodox — and almost comedic — slow-motion escape may have been their most clever disguise of all: acting so normally that no one thought to stop them.