Daring 7-Minute Heist at the Louvre: Thieves Steal Nine Priceless French Crown Jewels

It unfolded like a scene from a heist movie. In broad daylight and within just seven minutes, at least three masked thieves struck Paris’s Louvre Museum on Sunday, October 19, 2025, escaping with nine priceless pieces from France’s crown jewels collection.

Traffic around the Louvre Pyramid came to a standstill, and gates along the Seine were shut, leaving bewildered tourists stranded. “What’s going on?” one visitor asked. “Watch the news,” a policewoman reportedly replied, according to Le Parisien.

How the Robbery Happened

Around 9:30 a.m., as visitors began entering the museum, three masked men accessed the site through a construction area on the Seine quayside. Using a goods lift, they reached the Apollo Gallery — home to part of the French crown jewels.

“Individuals entered from outside with a cherry picker,” confirmed Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who said “three or four thieves” were involved.

Equipped with small chainsaws and an angle grinder, the burglars cut through a window to reach the gallery. “Clearly a team that had been scouting,” a former Paris police chief told Le Parisien.

The Getaway

Once inside, the thieves quickly targeted two displays, seizing nine jewels — including a tiara and a brooch from Napoleon Bonaparte’s collection, as well as pieces belonging to Empress Eugénie.

They fled on motor scooters, disappearing into Paris’s streets. One stolen item — believed to be Empress Eugénie’s broken crown — was later recovered outside the museum. Culture Minister Rachida Dati called the operation “professional,” saying it was completed in just four minutes and involved “quite priceless” artifacts.

Investigation Underway

The Louvre was immediately evacuated and remained closed as forensic teams combed the scene. The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into organized theft and criminal conspiracy, led by the Banditism Repression Brigade (BRB) with support from the Central Office for Combating Trafficking in Cultural Property (OCBC).

Of the nine stolen jewels, two — including the Empress’s crown — have been recovered. The remaining seven, including a necklace, earrings, brooch, and another crown, are still missing.

The Louvre: A Symbol of Heritage

Once a royal palace built in 1546 for King Francis I, the Louvre became a public museum after the French Revolution. Today, it spans 73,000 square metres of exhibition space, houses over 35,000 artworks, and welcomes nearly 30,000 visitors daily.

Political Reactions

Culture Minister Dati reiterated that the heist involved “professionals” and “priceless” pieces. Communist senator Ian Brossat expressed solidarity with museum staff, saying, “We must hope the police and justice services quickly identify the perpetrators so they can be convicted and the stolen items recovered.”