Paris Louvre Museum, renowned worldwide, experienced a “major robbery” on Sunday, October 19th, as confirmed by the French Minister of Interior. The suspects managed to steal multiple “priceless” jewels in just seven minutes. Authorities are currently investigating the robbery with no reports of injuries so far.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Interior, the thieves committed the robbery around 9:30 am on Sunday while the museum was open to the public. The culprits gained access to the Apollo Gallery (Galerie d’Apollon) within the building. A detailed list of the stolen artifacts is currently being compiled.
The statement also emphasized that “besides their market value, these objects also hold priceless cultural heritage and historical significance.”
French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, informed TF1 that the robbery took place over a few minutes and was carried out by professionals. “We watched some videos: they did not target individuals,” Dati stated. “The thieves smashed display cases, took the exhibits, and left. There was no violence, very professional.”
She further mentioned that authorities discovered a piece of jewelry outside the museum, apparently dropped by the fleeing thieves. Dati declined to disclose the item but according to the French newspaper Le Parisien, it is believed to be the crown of Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. The jewelry was reported to have been damaged.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez informed France Inter that three to four thieves used a basketlifting device to enter the museum from the outside. The robbery lasted for seven minutes.
“They broke a window, rushed to several display cases, and stole the jewels… these jewels have genuine historical value, they are treasures beyond price,” Nunez said, noting that the suspects later fled the scene on motorcycles.
“I believe we will soon find the culprits, and the most important thing is to recover the stolen items,” he added.
Following the robbery, the Louvre Museum announced its closure, with police sealing off the entrances and escorting visitors out during the investigation. The museum stated that its closure was due to “special reasons.”
This theft incident may raise concerns about museum security. Previously, museum officials had warned about the lack of investment in security for the famous institution, which welcomed 8.7 million visitors in 2024.