On October 19, 2025, three individuals stole nine pieces of Napoleon-era jewelry from the Louvre Museum’s Crown Jewels collection during museum operating hours. The incident occurred between 9:30 AM and 9:40 AM in the Galerie d’Apollon, which houses the French Crown Jewels. French Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed that jewelry of “inestimable value” was stolen, with no injuries reported during the event.
Story Highlights
- Three thieves stole nine pieces of Napoleon-era jewelry from the Louvre’s Crown Jewels collection.
- The incident took place during museum opening hours.
- Criminals accessed restricted areas via a freight elevator, exploiting ongoing renovations.
- Display cases were smashed to access the jewelry.
- The museum was subsequently closed as French authorities initiated an investigation.
- The thieves reportedly escaped on scooters shortly after the theft.
Details of the Incident
The individuals executed a planned theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris. They targeted the Galerie d’Apollon, utilizing a freight elevator to access the restricted area. This access was reportedly facilitated by ongoing museum renovations. Once inside, the individuals broke display windows to take nine pieces from the Napoleon and Empress collections. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described this as a “major robbery” requiring a comprehensive forensic investigation to determine the extent of security breaches.
Napoleon jewels vitrine robbed at the Louvres today, by a crew of 3-4 who are still on the run.
They went up a forklift, broke the window and used small chainsaws.
A daring heist involving Napoleonic objects in this day and age? The signs are increasing… pic.twitter.com/tzc0sNyeu8
— Leo Caesaris (@leo_caesaris) October 19, 2025
The individuals’ escape plan involved fleeing the scene on scooters within minutes of the theft. This method has been observed in other European museum thefts, including the 2019 Dresden Green Vault robbery. The swift getaway occurred despite the Louvre’s central Paris location. French authorities are facing pressure to implement enhanced security measures and are conducting forensic analysis to recover the artifacts.
The Louvre has been temporarily closed following a robbery that took place this morning. pic.twitter.com/hYsME15D1n
— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 19, 2025
Watch the report: Breaking News LIVE | Robbery at Louvre Museum Shocks Paris | Security on Alert | World News Live
Sources:
Louvre Museum closes after robbery, French minister confirms
Thieves broke into Louvre Museum in Paris, stole jewelry
Louvre closed for the day after a robbery, according to culture minister
