Manufacturer of vehicle used in Louvre burglary unveils new tongue-in-cheek ad

The company is drawing attention to its unexpected link with the high-profile theft

The tagline of 'when you have to act quickly' is being used by the vehicle manufacturer
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An historic burglary of the Louvre last Sunday (October 19) has seen an influx of jokes and memes online. 

From comedy sketches over the jewelry being used as a birthday gift, to jibes about the French work ethic leading to the daytime heist (the burglars refusing to start work before 09:00), social media has been awash with commentary on the incident. 

The German manufacturer of the freight elevator used by the burglars has also joined the chorus, posting about the incident on its own social media pages.

Böcker, the manufacturer of the vehicle used to help burglars reach the upper windows of the Apollo Gallery and break into the museum, shared a photo of the incident with the caption “When you have to act quickly.” 

“The Böcker Agilo can transport up to 400 kilos of treasure at a speed of 42 meters per minute, thanks to a motor as quiet as a whisper,” the caption continues. 

Owner of the company Alexander Böcker confirmed to French news agency AFP that the equipment had been sold to a client near Paris several years ago, who then rented it out to smaller companies. 

The vehicle was stolen last week – more than likely by the Louvre burglars – who changed the number plate and logo of the vehicle. 

“When it became clear that no one was injured in the robbery, we took it with a bit of humor,” said Mr Böcker, adding that his wife came up with the slogan.

He said he wanted to “take advantage of the notoriety of the most famous and most-visited museum in the world to draw a little attention to our company,” but was upset at what had happened.

“Of course, this act is absolutely reprehensible, we are fully aware of that,” added the grandson of the original founder of the company.