French authorities have launched a nationwide manhunt for four thieves who executed a daring and meticulously planned daylight robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, escaping with eight pieces of “priceless” historical jewellery — including a necklace once gifted by Napoleon Bonaparte to his wife, Marie Louise.
The world-famous museum abruptly closed its doors on Sunday morning after the robbers targeted two glass display cases inside the Apollon Gallery, the room that houses France’s crown jewels.
A Targeted and Professional Operation
According to investigators, the robbery took place around 9:30 a.m. local time and lasted only seven minutes. The suspects — believed to be a highly trained team — approached the building from a construction zone outside the museum. Using a truck and basket lift, they accessed an upper level and cut through windows with power tools and an angle grinder.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the raid as “a professional and highly organised operation.” He confirmed that three or four individuals were involved and that investigators are reviewing security footage to track their escape route. “They stole jewels with an immeasurable heritage value,” Nuñez told France Inter radio.
Among the stolen pieces were a diamond and emerald necklace gifted by Napoleon to Marie Louise and a sapphire set — necklace and earrings — once worn by Hortense, Napoleon’s stepdaughter and former Queen of Holland. A crown once belonging to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, was found broken near the museum after the thieves fled. The crown was adorned with 1,354 diamonds, 56 emeralds, and golden eagles.
Swift Response and Evacuation
As soon as alarms were triggered, museum security intervened and called the police. The Louvre was immediately evacuated to allow forensic teams to preserve evidence. Investigators later found that the suspects had left behind some of their equipment and tools.
Nuñez later wrote on social media: “Targeting the Louvre is targeting our history and our heritage.”
Public Reaction and Political Outcry
The French Culture Minister Rachida Dati was the first to confirm the robbery, calling it a “braquage” — a French term for an armed robbery — and reassuring the public that no one was injured. “I’m on-site with museum staff and police,” she posted on X.
One stolen item, believed to be part of the Empress’s crown, was later recovered near the scene.
Local and national leaders expressed outrage over the theft. Ariel Weil, mayor of central Paris, said he was “shocked,” calling the incident “something out of a movie.” Far-right leader Jordan Bardella condemned the robbery as “an unbearable humiliation for our country,” while President Emmanuel Macron called it “an attack on a heritage we hold dear.” Macron vowed that “the works will be recovered, and those responsible will face justice.”
The Louvre’s Legacy and Ongoing Challenges
The Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum with over 8 million annual visitors, is home to masterpieces like Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and ancient royal treasures. The Apollon Gallery, originally commissioned by Louis XIV, features some of France’s most precious crowns, diadems, and jewels — including the legendary diamonds Regent, Sancy, and Hortensia, which were left untouched.
This robbery comes amid ongoing renovation efforts announced earlier this year by President Macron to modernize the Louvre and address issues like overcrowding, temperature control, and infrastructure decay.
The museum has faced thefts in the past — most famously in 1911, when the Mona Lisa was stolen and recovered three years later in Italy. The most recent theft before this heist occurred in 1998, when a painting by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot was stolen and never found.
In recent months, French museums have seen a wave of similar crimes. Just weeks ago, thieves used an angle grinder to steal €600,000 worth of gold samples from the Natural History Museum in Paris. Last November, armed men raided the Cognacq-Jay Museum, stealing luxury 18th-century objects — some on loan from the Louvre and the British royal collection.
As investigators continue their search, France remains stunned by the boldness of the Louvre heist, a crime striking at the very heart of the nation’s cultural identity.