Paris woke up to chaos on Sunday morning after one of the most daring robberies in modern French history unfolded inside the Louvre — the world’s most visited museum.
A group of masked thieves stormed the gallery in broad daylight, making off with priceless jewels once owned by Napoleon and his family.
Thieves Masquerade as Workers to Pull Off a Daring Raid
In a scene that felt straight out of a Hollywood movie, one of the robbers was caught on camera wearing a yellow hi-vis vest, posing as a construction worker as he broke into a glass cabinet.
Witnesses say the gang — described as “highly organised” — arrived outside the iconic museum around 9:30 a.m., blending into the bustle of tourists.
Using angle grinders and other heavy tools, they forced their way into a secured section of the Louvre and, within just seven minutes, had snatched nine of the museum’s most precious treasures — including a crown valued at nearly £100 million.
Ingenious Entry Through the Museum’s Walls
Investigators revealed that the group targeted a part of the Louvre currently under construction near the Seine River.
They extended a freight elevator from the back of a flatbed truck, propping it against the gallery wall like a ladder.
Once they climbed to the top, they sliced open a museum window with a handheld disc cutter before entering Salle 705, an exhibition room displaying Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte’s jewellery collection.
Inside, they smashed two display cases and grabbed nine out of the 23 priceless items before vanishing.
Priceless Treasures Lost — and a Few Left Behind
Among the stolen artefacts was an emerald-and-diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon to his wife, Empress Marie Louise.
The ornate Eugénie Crown, created in 1855 and adorned with thousands of diamonds and emeralds, was also targeted — though it was later found discarded and damaged outside the Louvre.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that two of the nine stolen pieces were recovered nearby, likely dropped as the thieves made their getaway.
He said the gang arrived on two Yamaha scooters and a flatbed truck, using power tools — even a chainsaw — to force open display cases.
Louvre Locked Down as Police Launch Major Investigation
The museum, located in the heart of Paris, was swiftly evacuated and placed under lockdown while detectives and forensic teams swarmed the site.
Nuñez explained that closing the museum was essential to preserve evidence and allow investigators to work “calmly and effectively.”
The case has been handed to the Banditism Repression Brigade and the Central Office for Combating Trafficking in Cultural Property, both tasked with tracing stolen artworks and catching the culprits.
Officials Condemn the “Highly Organised” Crime
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said she was on-site with museum staff and police, assuring the public that no one was injured during the incident.
She described the raid as “an attack on our cultural heritage” and promised that authorities would track down those responsible.
Minister Nuñez echoed her determination, admitting there are “vulnerabilities” in France’s museums but vowing to strengthen security.
He also hinted that the gang could include foreign nationals, saying, “It’s clear they had studied the site well before striking.”
Echoes of the Mona Lisa Heist
The Louvre is no stranger to dramatic thefts. The most famous occurred in 1911, when Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa vanished for two years after being stolen by a museum employee, Vincenzo Peruggia, who hid overnight inside a cupboard.
Since then, the museum — and others across Paris — have faced occasional security scandals.
In 2010, the Paris Museum of Modern Art lost five masterpieces, including works by Picasso and Matisse, in a £100 million burglary.
Security Concerns at France’s Treasured Museums
This latest incident comes despite repeated promises from French authorities to tighten museum security.
Just last year, axe-wielding thieves raided the Musée Cognacq-Jay, escaping with seven antique snuffboxes worth over £3 million, including items on loan from the British Crown.
The Louvre alone welcomed nine million visitors in 2024, the majority of them international tourists — making it both a cultural hub and a prime target for high-profile heists.
Stolen Artworks Likely Hidden, Not Sold
Experts believe that the jewels stolen from Napoleon’s collection will never hit the black market.
Instead, they’ll likely remain hidden, kept by whoever orchestrated the crime.
“These aren’t items you can just sell — they’ll be admired privately by the person who commissioned the raid,” one police source suggested.
A City Left Stunned by Its Own History
For now, Paris remains in disbelief. A robbery pulled off in broad daylight, right in the heart of its most famous museum, has reignited fears about how vulnerable its cultural treasures truly are.
As the investigation continues, one thing is certain — the world’s most visited museum has once again become the scene of a mystery worthy of history itself.