Paris’s renowned Louvre Museum has been shut down due to an extraordinary incident after a group of burglars executed a swift and daring theft, making off with eight invaluable pieces of jewelry. This audacious crime has sent shockwaves through the world’s most frequented museum.
Authorities launched an extensive manhunt across Paris on Sunday, securing the museum’s perimeter-home to the iconic Mona Lisa-by sealing entrances with police tape and deploying armed soldiers around the famous glass pyramid.
Officials from the French government and the museum revealed that the culprits gained entry into the Galerie d’Apollon shortly after opening hours by exploiting a furniture lift typically used for moving items into the building.
In a matter of just four minutes, the stolen-motorcycle-receivers-recover-7/” title=”Kano Police Crack Down: Arrest 10 Motorcycle Thieves' Receivers, Recover Seven … Bikes”>thieves escaped on motorcycles carrying eight precious artifacts from the Napoleonic era, inadvertently dropping a ninth item during their getaway.
Below is a detailed account of the heist, which has raised concerns about the museum’s capacity to manage large visitor numbers and the strain on its personnel.
Details of the Incident
At approximately 9:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, while visitors were already exploring the Louvre, the robbers targeted Apollo’s Gallery-a richly adorned hall commissioned by King Louis XIV that houses the French crown jewels.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the event as a “significant robbery,” explaining that the thieves used a basket lift to access the museum’s windows, entered the gallery, and fled on motorcycles with jewels of immeasurable worth.
The museum promptly evacuated all guests and announced via its website that it would remain closed for the entire day due to these exceptional circumstances.
Police secured the area by closing gates, clearing the courtyards, and shutting down nearby streets along the Seine River as investigations commenced.
One American visitor, Talia Ocampo, described the scene to AFP as “like something out of a Hollywood thriller.”
No injuries were reported, but the four suspects remained at large as of Sunday evening.
Items Taken in the Theft
The Ministry of Culture confirmed that eight pieces were stolen from two high-security display cases, including an emerald and diamond necklace gifted by Emperor Napoleon I to Empress Marie Louise.
The crown of Empress Eugénie, spouse of Napoleon III, was found abandoned outside the museum’s grounds, having been dropped by the robbers during their escape.
This crown is adorned with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, according to the Louvre.
Apollo’s Gallery houses numerous priceless treasures, such as the historic diamonds Regent, Sancy, and Hortensia, alongside an exquisite collection of royal hardstone vessels, as detailed on the museum’s website.
Anthony Amore, an expert on art theft and co-author of Stealing Rembrandts: The Untold Stories of Notorious Art Heists, told Al Jazeera that these artifacts hold immense value not only monetarily but also culturally.
“Unlike a stolen painting that would be instantly recognizable and publicized, these jewels can be dismantled and sold discreetly, making them difficult to trace,” Amore explained.
Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that the Regent diamond was not among the stolen items.
How the Robbery Was Executed
Authorities revealed that the thieves combined power tools, motorcycles, and rapid execution to complete the heist within minutes.
According to a police source, the group arrived on scooters equipped with angle grinders. They utilized the hoist to reach the gallery’s windows and cut through the glass using disc cutters.
A nearby cyclist told TF1 news that he witnessed two men ascend the hoist, shatter the window, and enter the museum, with the entire act lasting roughly 30 seconds.
Le Parisien reported that the thieves accessed the museum through the Seine-facing facade, where construction work was underway. Two of the suspects were disguised as construction workers wearing yellow safety vests.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati stated that law enforcement arrived mere minutes after the robbery was reported.
“To be frank, the entire operation took nearly four minutes-it was incredibly swift,” she remarked.
Video footage showed the hoist positioned against the Seine-facing facade, leading to a balcony window, which was the entry point before being removed on Sunday.
Next Steps in the Investigation
With the suspects still at large, forensic teams have been deployed to the Louvre and surrounding areas to collect evidence and analyze surveillance footage from the Denon wing and the riverfront.
Authorities plan to interview museum staff present during the opening hours on Sunday.
The Interior Ministry is compiling a comprehensive inventory of the stolen artifacts, emphasizing their irreplaceable historical and cultural significance beyond monetary value.
Minister Dati suggested the perpetrators were seasoned criminals.
“Organized crime increasingly targets art objects, and museums have become prime targets,” she noted.
Past Thefts at the Louvre
The Louvre’s most notorious theft occurred in 1911 when the Mona Lisa was stolen from its frame, only to be recovered two years later. In 1956, a visitor threw a stone at the painting, damaging the paint near the subject’s left elbow, which led to the artwork being placed behind bulletproof glass.
In recent years, the museum has grappled with surging visitor numbers-reaching 8.7 million in 2024-and staff shortages, which have led to employee dissatisfaction.
In June, the museum postponed its opening due to a strike protesting chronic understaffing.
The daylight robbery on Sunday has sparked widespread outrage among French citizens and politicians alike.
“It’s astonishing that such a world-famous museum could have such glaring security vulnerabilities,” said Magali Cunel, a teacher from near Lyon, to the Associated Press.
