The Louvre Museum in Paris, the world’s most-visited museum, was forced to shut down for “exceptional reasons” on Sunday after a group of intruders carried out a lightning-fast robbery, stealing eight priceless pieces of jewellery in just four minutes.
Police have launched a massive manhunt for the culprits, who broke into the Galerie d’Apollon (Apollo’s Gallery) through a window soon after the museum opened. The suspects reportedly used a lift normally employed to move furniture into buildings before escaping on motorcycles with jewels dating back to the Napoleonic era, dropping one piece as they fled.
French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the incident on social media, calling it an “attack on a heritage that we cherish.” He vowed, “The perpetrators will be brought to justice. Everything is being done, everywhere, to achieve this, under the leadership of the Paris prosecutor’s office.”
The heist unfolded around 9:30am local time (07:30 GMT), as tourists roamed the museum. According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, the thieves used a basket lift to access the gallery and fled on motorbikes with “jewels of inestimable value.”
The Louvre evacuated visitors and closed for the day while police sealed off the premises and surrounding streets along the Seine River. “It was crazy… like a Hollywood movie,” said Talia Ocampo, an American tourist who witnessed the scene.
Authorities confirmed that the stolen treasures include pieces once owned by Empress Marie-Louise, wife of Napoleon I, and Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. Among them are tiaras, necklaces, earrings, and brooches. The crown of Empress Eugenie—set with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds—was later recovered outside the museum walls.
Experts said the theft represents a major loss of cultural heritage. Anthony Amore, an art theft expert, told Al Jazeera the stolen items are priceless “not just in terms of dollars, but in terms of cultural patrimony.”
Investigators said the gang used power tools, motorcycles, and precise coordination to pull off the heist. Witnesses reported seeing men dressed as construction workers using a hoist to enter the building, with the entire operation lasting “almost four minutes,” according to Culture Minister Rachida Dati.
Police forensic teams are now examining CCTV footage and interviewing staff. Dati described the thieves as “professionals,” adding, “Organised crime today targets objects of art, and museums have of course become targets.”
The theft has reignited concerns about security and staffing at the Louvre, which drew 8.7 million visitors in 2024 but has faced repeated staff shortages and strikes. French citizens and politicians have expressed shock that such a high-profile museum could be so vulnerable in broad daylight.
“It’s just unbelievable that a museum this famous can have such obvious security gaps,” said Magali Cunel, a teacher from near Lyon.
Source: AP