Thieves carried out a daylight heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday. They made off with priceless jewels in an operation authorities described as both swift and highly professional.
‘A major robbery’
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the robbery occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time, just half an hour after the museum opened its doors to the public. The theft took place in the Galerie d’Apollon, a vaulted hall in the Denon wing that houses part of the French Crown Jewels beneath a ceiling painted by King Louis XIV’s court artist.
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“It’s a major robbery,” Nunez told reporters, noting that investigators believe three or four suspects were involved. “The crime bears the hallmarks of a veteran team — they acted with precision and speed.”
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed that one of the stolen pieces of jewelry was recovered inside the museum during the suspects’ escape.
“A piece of jewelry was indeed found and is currently being evaluated,” Dati said. “This is ongoing. The operation lasted almost four minutes — it was very quick. These are professionals.”
She emphasized that organized crime increasingly targets art objects, adding, “France, with its rich historical heritage, has unfortunately become a target for such criminals.”
Like something out of a movie
Witnesses described a scene reminiscent of a Hollywood film as alarms sounded and visitors were quickly ushered out of the museum. Joan and Jim Carpenter, tourists from California, recounted confusion and hurried evacuations as security personnel cleared the galleries.
Authorities said the thieves used a crane to break a window and gain direct entry into the gallery containing the French Crown Jewels. The suspects then fled the scene on motorbikes. French media reported that several items from the Napoleon Collection were among those stolen.
Following the robbery, museum officials announced the Louvre would close for “exceptional reasons.” No timeline has been provided for when the museum will reopen.
“When you rob the Louvre, that’s a big deal to all of France,” said tourist Joan Carpenter.
