Paris, Oct 21: The Louvre Museum remained closed on Monday, a day after a dramatic jewel heist saw priceless Napoleonic-era treasures stolen in broad daylight.Staff asked visitors to leave the premises, and the museum announced refunds for ticket holders via social media.
On Sunday morning, shortly after the museum opened, a group of thieves used a basket lift to access the Louvre’s riverfront facade. They forced open a window with a disc cutter and swiftly targeted the Apollon Gallery, home to the French Crown Diamonds.
The burglars smashed two glass display cases, stole eight historic jewels, and fled on motorcycles. The entire operation lasted just four minutes, according to Culture Minister Rachida Dati.
The stolen items include a sapphire diadem, an emerald necklace and earrings, a reliquary brooch, and several pieces linked to French royalty and Napoleon’s second wife, Empress Marie-Louise. One major item, the emerald-set crown of Empress Eugénie, was later found discarded near the museum.
Despite alarms being triggered, the thieves escaped before security could intervene. No injuries were reported.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin criticized the apparent security lapses, questioning why unsecured windows and a publicly accessible basket lift were present.
Dati also acknowledged failures but praised security staff who stopped the thieves from destroying evidence by setting the lift on fire.
Investigators have recovered a motorcycle with a license plate, which may aid the investigation. The theft occurred just 250 meters from the Mona Lisa.
Dati pointed to ongoing efforts to improve museum security as part of a €700 million “Louvre New Renaissance” modernization plan, aiming to upgrade infrastructure and manage the crowds drawn by the museum’s 10 million annual visitors.
The plan includes building a dedicated gallery for the Mona Lisa by 2031.
Officials described the heist as one of the most significant museum thefts in recent memory.