The Louvre just got robbed, here is how it happened
In a lightning-fast operation lasting just minutes, thieves stole eight priceless jewels from the museum’s famed Apollo’s Gallery on Sunday, forcing the world’s most visited museum to shut down
France is reeling after a spectacular jewel heist at the Louvre Museum, one of the most audacious robberies in recent memory.
In a lightning-fast operation lasting just minutes, thieves stole eight priceless jewels from the museum's famed Apollo's Gallery on Sunday, forcing the world's most visited museum to shut down.
What happened
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Shortly after 9:30 am local time (07:30 GMT) on October 19, four thieves - some dressed as construction workers - used a mechanical hoist to reach a window on the Louvre's Seine-facing façade, where renovation work was underway.
Eyewitnesses described a scene out of a movie: two men climbed an extendable ladder, used a disc cutter to slice through a windowpane, and slipped into the Apollo's Gallery - home to France's royal jewels - in less than 30 seconds.
Inside, the robbers used power tools to smash open reinforced glass display cases and threatened guards with angle grinders. The entire operation lasted between four and seven minutes before the gang fled on motorbikes, leaving behind a scene of chaos but no injuries.
Police later found a reflective safety vest and the abandoned Crown of Empress Eugénie - one of the targeted treasures - near the museum walls. The thieves had apparently tried, and failed, to set fire to their equipment before escaping.
What was stolen
The thieves made off with eight jewels of immense historical and cultural value, most dating back to the Napoleonic era. Authorities described them as "inestimable," emphasizing their heritage significance over monetary worth.
Stolen pieces include:
1. A tiara and necklace from the sapphire set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense.
2. A single sapphire earring from the same set.
3. An emerald necklace and pair of emerald earrings from the Marie-Louise collection
4. The "reliquary" brooch.
5. The tiara and bodice knot brooch of Empress Eugénie.
A ninth target - Eugénie's diamond-and-emerald crown - was dropped during the getaway. It alone is estimated to be worth several tens of millions of euros.
Notably, the robbers bypassed other world-famous gems displayed in the same room, including the Regent diamond, worth over $60 million, and the Sancy and Hortensia diamonds. Investigators have called this omission a "mystery."
The investigation
The Louvre was swiftly evacuated and cordoned off as police, soldiers, and forensic teams descended on the site. Officers from a specialized robbery unit - known for handling high-profile art crimes - are now leading the probe under the supervision of the Paris Prosecutor's Office.
President Emmanuel Macron condemned the theft as "an attack on a heritage that we cherish," vowing that "everything is being done, everywhere" to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati said the thieves were "clearly professionals," adding that organized criminal networks increasingly target cultural treasures. Authorities are considering whether the heist was commissioned by a private collector or intended to fund other illicit activities by selling or melting down the jewels.
While all leads remain open, investigators say there is no indication of foreign involvement.
Why it matters
The theft has reignited concerns about security at major cultural institutions, particularly during renovation works. The Apollo's Gallery, an ornate space originally designed by Louis XIV, houses some of France's most treasured artifacts.
Beyond their market value, officials stress that the stolen items represent a loss to world heritage - intimately linked to France's imperial past.
As one cultural official put it: "You can replace the glass, but not the history."
