Louvre Jewel Heist Shocks Paris: Treasures Stolen in Eight-Minute Raid

Key Facts

• Thieves stole eight Napoleonic-era jewels from the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery.
• The daylight heist lasted less than eight minutes.
• Items included pieces of Empress Eugénie and Marie-Louise.
• No injuries reported; suspects remain at large.
• The Louvre remains closed as police investigate.

Paris police are investigating a daring daylight robbery at the Louvre Museum after masked thieves stole eight royal jewels in under eight minutes. The crew used a cherry picker to scale the riverfront facade, smashed into the Apollo Gallery, and escaped on motorbikes before security arrived. Among the missing treasures are pieces once owned by Empress Eugénie and Empress Marie-Louise, including a diamond tiara and emerald necklace.

Officials say the heist took place around 9:30 a.m., just after opening. Alarms went off within minutes, forcing the intruders to flee. Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed investigators recovered the abandoned lift and are reviewing CCTV footage. The haul has been described as of “inestimable historical value,” prompting a nationwide review of museum security.

President Emmanuel Macron called the theft “an attack on our shared heritage” and vowed swift justice. The Louvre will remain closed while forensic teams work inside, and additional security has been ordered for cultural landmarks across France as the manhunt intensifies.