Paris was thrown into chaos on Sunday morning when a daring gang of thieves pulled off an audacious daylight robbery at the Louvre, one of the world’s most visited and iconic museums.
In just seven minutes, they made off with nine priceless treasures, including a £100 million crown, sparking a massive manhunt across the French capital.
The Brazen Break-In
The gang of highly organized criminals arrived at the museum around 9:30 a.m., blending into the crowds of tourists enjoying a day at the Louvre.
Masked and armed with angle grinders, they parked scooters outside the Apollo Gallery—home to jewels collected by Napoleon Bonaparte, Empress Josephine, and subsequent French royalty.
Using a freight elevator extended from a flatbed truck, they climbed to the gallery’s exterior window.
Within minutes, the thieves had broken through the glass, entered Salle 705, and pried open two display cases, stealing nine items from the 23-piece Napoleon and Josephine collection.
Among the stolen treasures was the historic Eugénie Crown, adorned with thousands of diamonds and emeralds, which was later found shattered below a museum window.
Swift Escape Amid Tourist Panic
By 9:40 a.m., the thieves had vanished on their scooters, leaving behind the giant elevator against the Louvre’s stone walls.
Police quickly secured the area, while thousands of visitors were evacuated amid panic.
Forensics teams later examined the elevator and the getaway truck, gathering evidence to track the culprits.
Priceless Loot and Historical Significance
The stolen items included necklaces and brooches from Salle 705, though the famed Regent diamond was left untouched.
Experts note that Napoleon and Josephine amassed one of history’s most impressive jewelry collections, drawing pieces from royalty during the French Revolution and across the French Empire.
The Eugénie Crown alone was sold at auction in 1988 for $13.5 million (£10 million) and donated to the Louvre in 1992, now valued at tens of millions.
Investigation Underway
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that authorities have launched a probe into “theft and criminal conspiracy to commit a crime,” led by the Banditism Repression Brigade (BRB) and the Central Office for Combating Trafficking in Cultural Property.
Nuñez assured the public that the evacuation of visitors was completed safely and that every effort is being made to catch the perpetrators.
The busy Quai François-Mitterrand, adjacent to the museum, was closed until the afternoon, and President Emmanuel Macron has been updated in real time on the situation.
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati joined investigators on-site, confirming that no one was hurt and that the museum remains closed for “exceptional reasons.”
Paris’ Long History of Art Heists
Paris has long been a target for art thieves, with the Louvre itself having faced infamous thefts.
The most notable was in 1911 when Vincenzo Peruggia, a museum employee, stole the Mona Lisa, which was recovered two years later in Florence.
More recent thefts include the 1998 disappearance of Camille Corot’s Le Chemin de Sevres and a 2017 heist from the Paris Museum of Modern Art, in which thieves made off with works valued at almost £100 million.
Despite ongoing security improvements, high-profile museums in Paris continue to face threats.
Authorities caution that stolen treasures often end up hidden or in private collections rather than on the black market, underscoring the high stakes of these brazen raids.