Thieves Steal Priceless French Crown Jewels in Daring Daytime Raid at the Louvre
Paris witnessed an audacious heist on Sunday as a group of thieves broke into the Louvre Museum in broad daylight, stealing several priceless French crown jewels in a matter of minutes. The shocking robbery has left authorities and citizens stunned, marking one of the most significant cultural thefts in recent French history.
According to officials, the heist took place shortly after the museum opened to the public at 9:00 a.m. The thieves reportedly used angle grinders to break into high-security display cases inside the Apollo Gallery, where some of France’s most treasured artifacts were kept. Within seven minutes, eight historic pieces of jewelry were stolen — including the emerald-and-diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon to Empress Marie Louise, and the crown of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III.
Witnesses described the scene as something “straight out of a Hollywood movie.” One tourist, unable to enter the museum due to the lockdown, told local media that the experience was “unbelievable and unforgettable.” Police quickly sealed the area, while soldiers patrolled the Louvre’s famous glass pyramid entrance as visitors were evacuated.
The French Ministry of Culture confirmed that the thieves entered the museum using a powered, extendable ladder typically used for moving furniture into buildings. They threatened museum guards before smashing open the display cases and fleeing the scene on scooters. The ministry revealed that one of the stolen pieces — Empress Eugénie’s gem-encrusted crown — was recovered nearby after being dropped during the getaway.
President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation through social media, assuring the public that “everything is being done” to capture the perpetrators and recover the lost artifacts. He emphasized the symbolic weight of the stolen treasures, describing them as part of France’s living history.
Authorities believe a team of four highly organized suspects carried out the theft. Paris’s chief prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, confirmed that a specialized investigative team of 60 officers has been assigned to the case.
The incident has reignited concerns about museum security across France. Newly appointed Interior Minister Laurent Nunez acknowledged a “great vulnerability” in the protection of cultural institutions, noting that the Louvre’s security systems will undergo urgent review.
The Louvre, once the royal palace of French kings before becoming the world’s most visited museum, attracted over nine million visitors last year. The robbery comes amid a troubling rise in museum thefts — including recent incidents at the Natural History Museum in Paris and a museum in Limoges, where valuable artifacts worth millions were taken.
The theft, occurring less than a kilometer from Paris Police Headquarters, has triggered political outrage. Opposition leaders called it a “national humiliation” and urged stronger measures to protect France’s cultural heritage.
As investigations continue, the Louvre remains temporarily closed to preserve evidence. For many, the heist has become a painful reminder of the fragility of history — and the urgent need to defend it.
