Four thieves executed a brazen heist at the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday morning, stealing priceless jewelry from the Napoleon collection in what authorities are calling a highly professional operation. The criminals made off with eight irreplaceable pieces of jewelry, including a diadem belonging to Empress Eugénie, though they dropped a ninth item during their escape. The entire museum remained closed throughout Sunday as investigators worked to secure evidence and examine the crime scene.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez revealed details of the sophisticated operation during an afternoon press conference, describing how the four masked men managed to penetrate the Apollo Gallery on the museum's first floor. According to Paris Chief Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, speaking on BFM TV Sunday evening, the thieves wore face masks and fled on high-powered motor scooters. The break-in occurred between 9:30 and 9:40 AM, with the experienced team using a freight elevator to access the gallery.
The actual theft took just seven minutes to complete, according to Interior Minister Nuñez. The criminals used angle grinders to break into two display cases containing some of the world's most famous gemstones before making their escape on motorcycles. Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who reviewed surveillance footage of the incident, told broadcaster TF1 that the thieves were clearly professionals who executed their plan with remarkable precision and restraint.
"These are professionals," Minister Dati explained. "I saw the surveillance camera footage. They don't attack anyone, they go in very calmly. In four minutes, they naturally destroy display cases, take their loot and disappear without any use of violence." The minister emphasized that no violence was used during the heist and no one was injured in the incident.
Among the stolen treasures was a diadem belonging to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. However, the thieves initially took nine items but lost one piece during their escape near the museum. The dropped item turned out to be Empress Eugénie's crown, which according to the museum's website is adorned with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds. The French Culture Ministry confirmed that the condition of the recovered crown is currently being examined, with investigative sources indicating the valuable 19th-century piece sustained damage.
The Apollo Gallery, where the heist took place, houses some of the world's most renowned gemstones and royal treasures. The collection includes the 140-carat Regent diamond, the pink Hortensia diamond, and the famous Sancy diamond, along with various royal crowns. Interior Minister Nuñez described the stolen pieces as having "true cultural heritage value." The gallery itself, bathed entirely in gold, was created under the commission of King Louis XIV, and its overwhelming splendor and displayed treasures make it one of the most unforgettable halls in the Louvre.
This daring Louvre heist marks the third museum robbery in France within just a few weeks, highlighting a concerning trend of cultural institution targeting. On the night of September 3-4, two Chinese plates were stolen from the Adrien Dubouché Porcelain Museum in Limoges. Then, during the night of September 15-16, thieves made off with gold nuggets valued at 600,000 euros from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris. The Louvre itself has experienced multiple thefts over the past decades, though none as brazen as Sunday's operation.
Authorities closed the museum for security reasons and to preserve evidence for the ongoing investigation. The evacuation of visitors proceeded without incident, according to statements from both the Interior and Culture Ministries. Police continue to search for the four-man crew responsible for the heist, focusing their investigation on the sophisticated methods used to access one of the world's most secure cultural institutions. The Louvre, which ranks among the most famous attractions in the French capital and draws millions of visitors annually, is expected to reopen once security assessments are complete and all evidence has been properly documented.
