Marine Le Pen, president of the National Rally parliamentary group, has sharply criticized the security measures at French museums and historic buildings following a spectacular burglary at the Louvre Museum on Sunday morning. In a post on social media platform X, Le Pen stated that "responsibility requires acknowledging that our museums and historic buildings are not secured to match the threats they face," calling for immediate action to address these security gaps.
The unprecedented theft at the world's most visited museum occurred Sunday morning when three to four suspects used a lift mounted on a truck to break into the facility, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The burglars targeted the Apollo Gallery, where France's crown jewels and precious gemstones are displayed, making off with items of "inestimable" patrimonial and historical value. The entire operation was completed in just seven minutes by what the Interior Minister described as a "seasoned team."
Among the stolen items was the crown of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, which was later found damaged near the Parisian museum. The crown, typical of imperial crown representations, contains 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds according to the Louvre's online description. The discovery of the damaged crown highlights the irreparable cultural loss caused by the theft, beyond its monetary value.
The burglars gained entry to the museum by using a lift truck to break a window around 9:30 AM, just as the site was opening to the public. Once inside, they smashed display cases containing jewels in the Apollo Gallery using power tools and fled on motorcycles. The museum was immediately closed for the entire day for "exceptional reasons" and "security concerns," with all visitor reservations being refunded.
Political reactions to the heist have been swift and severe. Communist Party spokesperson and Paris Senator Ian Brossat expressed outrage on franceinfo, calling it "a shame for our country to reach such a situation." He emphasized the global significance of the Louvre, questioning how such a world-renowned institution could fall victim to such a brazen crime. Laurent Wauquiez, leader of the Republicans group in the National Assembly, declared on social media that "France has been robbed."
Law enforcement agencies have launched a comprehensive investigation into the theft. The Brigade for the Repression of Banditry (BRB) is working alongside the Central Office for Combating Cultural Property Trafficking (OCBC) to establish the exact circumstances of the crime and identify the perpetrators. The Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation for "organized gang theft" and "criminal association," with all available resources being deployed to recover the stolen artifacts.
Experts warn that while the stolen objects are unsellable in their current state, they could be dismantled for their individual components. Alexandre Giquello, president of the Drouot auction house, explained on television that thieves would likely break apart the pieces to extract gold and precious stones separately, though this would represent an immeasurable loss to France's cultural heritage. The incident has drawn comparisons to recent thefts at other cultural institutions, including a burglary at the Natural History Museum just weeks earlier, raising broader questions about museum security across France.
