In a daring seven-minute daylight heist, thieves struck the world-renowned Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday morning, escaping with priceless pieces from the French Crown Jewels collection in the Apollo Gallery.
According to officials, the intruders entered around 9:30 a.m. through the museum’s Seine-facing façade, which is currently under construction. Using a basket lift to reach a restricted zone, they cut through a window with a disc cutter and accessed the gallery via a freight elevator.
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France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described it as a “major robbery,” noting that the crime was clearly pre-planned. “It was manifestly a team that had done scouting,” he said, confirming that the operation lasted barely seven minutes.
The thieves targeted two showcases containing jewels from the Napoleon collection. Initial reports suggest nine pieces were stolen, including Empress Eugénie’s crown, which was later found broken just outside the museum. Authorities have called the stolen items “priceless,” given their deep historical significance.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed the incident on X, stating that no one was injured but emphasizing the cultural loss. Police immediately sealed off the museum and evacuated visitors while forensic teams began their investigation and inventory of the stolen items.
The Louvre, one of the most visited museums globally, has faced rare but infamous thefts in its long history, the most notable being the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa. The museum remained closed Sunday “for exceptional reasons” as the manhunt for the culprits began.
