In a bold and swift operation, a group of thieves broke into the world-famous Louvre Museum over the weekend, stealing a collection of priceless jewels before disappearing into the streets of Paris on motorcycles.
The theft took place in broad daylight on Saturday, resulting in an immediate shutdown of the museum, leaving a group of tourists stunned outside of its grand pyramid entrance. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the heist as a “major robbery”, per Le Parisien, saying that the thieves finished their raid of the museum in around seven minutes.
Investigators now say the burglars exploited a vulnerable spot in the museum’s security system, specifically in a construction zone. They allegedly scaled the building with a cherry-picker and then used a high-power cutting tool to break a protective layer of glass on an external window. Once inside the museum, the thieves targeted the “Apollo Gallery,” which houses some of France’s most cherished crown jewels.
“The investigation has begun, and a detailed list of the stolen items is being compiled,” Nunez and the Ministry said in a statement. “Beyond their market value, these items have inestimable heritage and historical value.”
Among the missing items are several artifacts linked to Napoleon Bonaparte and his empress, including rare pieces from the historic “imperial collection”.
One standout item – a delicate crown once worn by Empress Eugénie – was discovered discarded and damaged just outside the museum grounds, suggesting the thieves may have ditched some artifacts during their quick escape.
The Louvre – which attracts millions of visitors each year to admire masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo – announced that it would remain closed as of Monday.
A banner on the museum’s website read on Monday morning: “Following yesterday’s robbery at the Louvre, the museum regrets to inform you that it will remain closed to the public today. Visitors who have already purchased tickets will be automatically refunded.”
No one was hurt during the heist.
This isn’t the first time a major cultural site has been robbed in 2025.
Earlier this month, Egyptian authorities investigated a string of artifact thefts from a collection of ancient tombs around the country, per The National News.
Closer to home
The Apollo Gallery robbery is one of the largest heists of its kind in global history, in terms of the value of the art and jewels stolen.
However, America has seen a spattering of its own museum robberies within the past few decades: one of the most notable being the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum robbery in 1990, which still stands unsolved to this day.
On March 18, 1990, two men posing as police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, tied up guards, and stole 13 “masterpieces” worth over $500 million in what remains the largest art theft in U.S. history. Works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Degas vanished that night, leaving behind empty frames that still hang in the museum as reminders of the loss. The FBI’s Boston Field Office continues to investigate the case alongside federal prosecutors and the museum.