Four masked thieves pulled up along the Seine at about 9:30am, half an hour after opening. They lifted a vehicle-mounted ladder to a second-floor balcony, cut through a window with power tools, and entered the Apollo Gallery. This Gallery is home to France’s crown jewels. The smash-and-grab lasted roughly seven minutes before the gang sped off on motorbikes. A staff member stopped them from torching the ladder truck as they fled.
What the Thieves Took
Officials said eight pieces were stolen. These included jewels linked to Napoleon I’s wife, Empress Marie-Louise, and Empress Eugénie of Napoleon III’s court. The gang dropped Eugénie’s crown—set with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds—during their escape. They also missed the famed Regent diamond.
Security Backlash in France
The Louvre museum robbery reignited a fierce debate about museum security. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin admitted failures, noting that thieves could park a furniture hoist on a public road. They could reach priceless artifacts within minutes. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said investigators believe an organised crime group planned the raid. A 60-strong team is on the case.
Why Experts are Alarmed
Recent heists show a shift toward “raw materials” theft—jewels, coins and medals that can be dismantled and sold quickly. Thieves are avoiding iconic paintings that are hard to offload. Experts told CNN the Louvre attack mirrors the high-precision Dresden Green Vault raid in 2019. It reflects increasingly aggressive, daylight “grab-and-go” tactics.
A Pattern of Brazen Museum Crimes
The Louvre museum robbery follows a September break-in at Paris’s Natural History Museum. There, thieves took gold worth about $700,000. Similarly, a Limoges theft involved porcelain valued at $11 million. French authorities have added the stolen Napoleonic pieces to Interpol’s database as the investigation widens.
What’s Next
Security at the Louvre has been strengthened in recent years. Officials said it will be reinforced again as part of a multimillion-euro upgrade. For now, the Louvre museum robbery stands as a stark warning. France’s cultural treasures face well-equipped, fast-moving criminals—and museums must adapt.
