The Louvre Museum in Paris will remain closed Monday as French police continue their search for the team of thieves behind a daring daylight robbery that saw eight priceless pieces of royal
jewelry stolen in just seven minutes.
Around 60 investigators are working on the case, which officials say appears to be the work of a highly organized and experienced criminal group—possibly foreign nationals.
A seven-minute operation
The heist unfolded between 9:30 and 9:40 a.m. on Sunday, shortly after the museum opened. According to investigators, the thieves used an extendable ladder to reach the Apollo Gallery—home to the royal jewelry collection—and cutting tools to break through a window and access the display cases.
A visitor’s brief phone video of the raid has already surfaced on French news channels, showing masked robbers grabbing the jewels before fleeing.
Among the treasures stolen were:
- An emerald-and-diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon to Empress Marie Louise,
- A diamond diadem once belonging to Empress Eugénie, featuring nearly 2,000 stones, and
- A sapphire-and-diamond necklace owned by Marie-Amélie, France’s last queen.
Officials confirmed that one item—the crown of Empress Eugénie—was dropped and damaged during the escape.
Security under fire
The robbery has reignited a fierce debate in France over museum security. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted Sunday that museum protection remains a “major weak spot.”
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin was even more blunt in a radio interview, calling the theft “a national humiliation.” He criticized authorities for allowing a team to park a mechanical lift outside one of the world’s most famous museums and pull off the heist in broad daylight.
Hard to sell, harder to forget
Experts say selling the stolen jewels will be nearly impossible. “These pieces are too well-known to ever appear on the open market,” said Alexandre Giquello, president of the Drouot Patrimoine auction house.
This marks the first theft at the Louvre since 1998, when a Corot painting disappeared and was never recovered.
President Emmanuel Macron said on social media that “everything is being done” to track down those responsible and bring the treasures home. Photo by Ali Sabbagh, Wikimedia commons.