The Louvre was closed for a second day Monday as police hunted for thieves who broke in and stole priceless jewels in a spectacular daylight robbery.

Officials said a team of 60 investigators was working on the theory that an organised crime group was behind the theft Sunday of nine pieces of jewellery, one of which -- a crown covered in more than 1,000 diamonds -- they dropped as they fled.

The thieves arrived at around 9:30 am (0730 GMT), shortly after the museum opened at 9:00 am, and completed the robbery in just seven minutes, sources and officials said.

They parked a truck with an extendable ladder like those used by movers below the museum's Apollo Gallery, home to an imperial jewel collection, clambering up and using cutting equipment to get in through a window and open the disp

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