Crystal Dike
France is reeling after a daring jewellery heist at the Louvre Museum on Sunday, which saw masked thieves steal eight priceless pieces in just seven minutes, exposing significant security lapses at the world-famous institution.
According to authorities, four masked robbers used a truck with a mechanical lift to access the Galerie d’Apollon between 9:30 and 9:40 a.m. local time. Armed with power tools, they broke glass panes, threatened security personnel, and smashed display cases before fleeing on scooters. An attempted arson on their getaway vehicle reportedly failed.
Among the stolen treasures are an emerald and diamond necklace gifted by Emperor Napoleon to Empress Marie Louise, a diamond diadem belonging to Empress Eugénie featuring nearly 2,000 diamonds, and a sapphire and diamond necklace once owned by Queen Marie-Amélie containing eight sapphires and 631 diamonds.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin described the robbery as a “terrible image” for France, while Interior Minister Laurent Nunez acknowledged a “great vulnerability” in museum security, citing a preliminary report showing that nearly one-third of rooms in the Louvre’s Denon wing lack surveillance cameras.
Art crime expert Chris Marinello warned that authorities have a narrow window to recover the stolen items, noting that the jewels could be melted, recut, and dispersed within 24 to 48 hours.
President Emmanuel Macron condemned the theft as “an attack on a heritage we cherish because it is our history,” and opposition leader Jordan Bardella called it an “intolerable humiliation.” Senator Natalie Goulet suggested the operation was likely orchestrated by organized crime, with stolen jewels potentially intended for money laundering.
The Louvre, originally a medieval fortress and royal palace, is the world’s most visited museum. Earlier this year, it had requested government support for renovations and enhanced security under President Macron’s New Renaissance Project, estimated at €700–€800 million.
The museum heist has prompted a massive manhunt, but experts caution that even if the culprits are apprehended, recovering the jewels intact may be nearly impossible.
