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Thieves accessed Paris’s Louvre Museum early Sunday by utilizing a crane and smashing an upper-level window. They stole precious jewelry from an area housing the French crown jewels before fleeing on motorbikes, according to French officials.
This heist is expected to prompt questions about museum security, especially given ongoing concerns about insufficient investment at this renowned site, which drew 8.7 million visitors in 2024.
The theft occurred around 9:30 a.m. (7:30 a.m. GMT), after the museum had opened, as the culprits entered through the Galerie d’Apollon building, the Interior Ministry reported.
The entire operation lasted about four minutes, according to Culture Minister Rachida Dati, and was executed by professionals.
“We reviewed footage: they don’t target individuals, they calmly enter, break display cases, grab their loot, and leave. No violence involved, highly professional,” Dati told TF1.
She mentioned that one piece of jewelry had been recovered outside the museum, seemingly dropped during the escape. While she didn’t specify what the item was, Le Parisien indicated it might be Napoleon III’s wife Empress Eugénie’s crown, which was reported to have been broken.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez explained to France Inter that three or four thieves used a crane mounted on a truck to break into the museum.
“They broke a window, targeted several display cases, and stole jewelry of immense historical and priceless value,” Nunez said.
A video from a museum guide posted on X shows visitors heading toward exits amid the chaos, initially unaware of the incident.
An investigation has been launched, with a specialized police unit known for solving high-profile robberies taking charge. No injuries have been reported.
The Louvre, renowned as the world’s most-visited museum and home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, announced it would remain closed for the day due to “exceptional reasons.”
This daring theft echoes the famous 1911 heist when the Mona Lisa was stolen by a former employee, who was later caught and the painting recovered two years afterward.
Earlier this year, Louvre officials called on the French government for urgent renovations and security enhancements to its aging exhibition spaces and extensive collection.
Dati emphasized that museum security issues are longstanding.
“For 40 years, there’s been little focus on securing these major museums. Two years ago, the Louvre’s director requested a security audit from police. Why? Because the nature of threats has evolved,” she explained. “Today, organized crime—professionals—is behind these thefts.”
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