NBC Boston spoke to an art theft expert who is also the director of security and chief investigator at the Gardner Museum about the logistics of this heist at the Louvre and what the thieves might be planning to do with the crown jewels. The plot was carried out just 30 minutes after the Louvre opened on Sunday morning.

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

Sunday’s robbery at the Paris museum could be the latest example of thieves targeting museums for jewels and precious metals to break down and sell on.

In an art heist, selling can be more difficult than stealing. Art crime experts explain what happens after a theft and why criminal groups have turned to precious metals.

The Louvre remained closed Monday, a day after historic jewels were stolen from the world’s most-visited museum in a daring daylight heist that prompted authorities to reassess security measures at cultural sites across France.

The Louvre Museum in Paris remains closed to the public after robbers stole imperial jewels in broad daylight on Sunday.