Louvre Museum Targeted in Daring Daylight Jewel Heist
Masked thieves executed a swift robbery at Paris' Louvre Museum, stealing priceless Napoleonic-era jewels and prompting a nationwide security reassessment.
On Sunday morning, masked thieves executed a swift and audacious robbery at Paris' Louvre Museum, making off with eight priceless Napoleonic-era jewels. The heist, lasting under eight minutes, occurred shortly after the museum opened to the public. The perpetrators used a basket lift to access a second-floor window of the Galerie d'Apollon, which houses the French crown jewels. Once inside, they smashed display cases and seized the artifacts before fleeing on motorcycles.
Among the stolen items were a sapphire diadem, necklace, and single earring linked to 19th-century French queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense; an emerald necklace and earrings from the collection of Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife; and a large bow brooch from Empress Eugénie's bodice. One artifact, Empress Eugénie's emerald-set imperial crown, was later found abandoned outside the museum.
French authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the heist. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has ordered an immediate reassessment of security measures at museums and cultural sites across the country. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged security lapses, noting that the thieves were able to park a basket lift in the middle of Paris and access the museum's window.
The Louvre remained closed on Monday as investigations continued. Visitors with pre-booked tickets were informed of the closure and offered refunds. The incident has intensified scrutiny over the security of cultural institutions and has added urgency to the museum's ongoing €700-million modernization plan, which includes infrastructure and security upgrades slated for completion by 2031.