Louvre Robbery in Just Seven Minutes: Priceless Crown Jewels Stolen in a High-Stakes Heist

Paris, France — On Sunday,October 19th ,the world’s most visited museum, the Louvre, was shaken by a daring robbery that unfolded in less than seven minutes in the Apollo Gallery, home to some of France’s most priceless crown jewels. This audacious daylight heist involved unknown perpetrators who used a cherry picker near a building under renovation to enter the museum through an upper window and escape quickly on motor scooters, shocking the country and the cultural community at large.

The robbers, disguised in bright yellow and orange vests typical of construction workers, used a mechanized lift to access a first-floor window from the Seine side. Equipped with small chainsaws and angle grinders, they forcibly broke the glass display cases and stole nine invaluable items deeply tied to French history and the Napoleonic era. Among the stolen artifacts were a sapphire tiara, necklace, and earrings set belonging to Queen Marie-Amélie, an emerald necklace and earrings of Marie-Louise, Duchess of Parma, a reliquary brooch, a tiara of Empress Eugénie de Montijo, and her crown.

Fortunately, the most famous and valuable gem in the collection, the 140-carat Regent Diamond, was left untouched, likely due to the rushed nature of the crime. However, the crown of Empress Eugénie was recovered near the Louvre, though damaged. The diamond bow of Empress Eugénie was among those stolen; the piece had been acquired by the museum for 6.72 million euros.

ADVERTISEMENT

The museum was promptly evacuated and closed for the rest of the day, with armed security securing the iconic glass pyramid entrance. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the robbery as an “assault on a heritage we hold dear,” promising a full investigation and justice. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the robbers’ tactics as professional and meticulously planned, pointing to evidence such as gasoline containers and walkie-talkies found near the getaway truck.

Authorities launched a high-profile manhunt through Paris and surrounding areas, tracing the escape route toward the A6 autoroute. The museum’s security measures and crowd management have come under scrutiny following the heist, particularly given that the thieves exploited ongoing renovation work to facilitate entry.

Witnesses likened the scene to a “Hollywood movie,” noting the criminal sophistication reminiscent of the film “Ocean’s Eleven.” Fortunately, no injuries were reported. French officials stressed the cultural and historical significance of the stolen items, emphasizing that their value far exceeds monetary worth.

This marks the first major theft at the Louvre since the 1998 art heist and has sparked a renewed conversation about protecting cultural heritage amid rising security challenges.

As investigations continue intensively, the Louvre and the French government appeal to the public for any information leading to the recovery of these irreplaceable jewels and the arrest of those responsible for this extraordinary crime.