Four thieves stole eight royal and imperial jewels of inestimable patrimonial value from the Galerie d'Apollon at the Louvre Museum on Sunday, October 19, around 9:30 a.m. The operation, carried out in seven minutes using a lift and an angle grinder, led to the immediate closure of the museum. Authorities have opened an investigation and vow to recover the items and perpetrators.
On Sunday, October 19, 2025, around 9:30 a.m., four masked thieves arrived at the Quai François-Mitterrand of the Louvre in a truck equipped with a lift and two powerful scooters. They forced a window in the Galerie d'Apollon on the first floor with an angle grinder, smashed two display cases – those of the 'Napoleon jewels' and 'French sovereigns jewels' – and stole eight items: a diadem, necklace, and earring from the sapphire parure of Marie-Amélie and Hortense; a necklace and pair of emerald earrings from Marie-Louise's parure; a reliquary brooch; Eugénie's diadem and grand corsage knot. Eugénie's crown, set with 1354 diamonds, 1136 rose cuts, and 56 emeralds, was found damaged on the roadway.
The thieves threatened guards with their tools and fled on scooters after seven minutes. Alarms activated, but it remains to be verified if agents heard them in the room. The Paris prosecutor's office opened an investigation for 'organized theft' assigned to the BRB and OCBC, with 60 investigators mobilized. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the perpetrators as 'highly experienced,' hopeful for quick resolution due to a high clearance rate.
Louvre President Laurence des Cars praised the teams' professionalism and noted that museums 'are no longer sanctuaries' against organized art trafficking. She had requested a security audit in 2021, with recent recommendations adding to ongoing measures. Culture Minister Rachida Dati highlighted longstanding vulnerability: 'For 40 years, we have not focused on securing these major museums.' A Court of Auditors report warns of delays in modernizing equipment, such as cameras covering only 60% of permanent rooms.
Emmanuel Macron vowed: 'We will recover the works and the authors will be brought to justice,' as part of the 'Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance' project including security enhancements. Political reactions, like Marine Le Pen's ('wound to the French soul') and Jordan Bardella's ('unbearable humiliation'), underscore the blow to heritage. The museum, closed all day, may reopen soon. This theft echoes previous Louvre incidents, like the Mona Lisa in 1911.
