Louvre's heist of the year took only four minutes — Here's what we know
Photo: World-famous Louvre Museum (Wikimedia Commons)
On the morning of October 19, the heist of the year took place in France — criminals robbed the Louvre, one of the country’s national symbols. The thieves broke into the Apollo Gallery and stole several valuables from the Napoleonic era.
4-7 minutes
According to law enforcement agencies, a team of nine perpetrators managed to carry out the robbery in just seven minutes, as stated by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. Culture Minister Rachida Dati said that it allegedly took even less time, only four minutes.
The criminals appear to have conducted prior reconnaissance and knew exactly what they were looking for. The break-in occurred using a construction platform located near the museum.
Two of the perpetrators pretended to be utility workers, dressed in corresponding uniforms. Another five at that moment entered the Apollo Gallery, cutting through windows with special tools. Two more acted as lookouts nearby, waiting on scooters.
What was stolen from the Louvre
In total, nine very expensive jewels from the era of Emperor Napoleon I Bonaparte were stolen from the gallery:
- a jewelry set;
- a necklace;
- earrings;
- a brooch;
- two crowns, including the crown of Empress Eugénie.
The Empress’s crown, along with several other jewels, was recovered — how exactly remains undisclosed. According to preliminary reports, the thieves damaged the crown and abandoned it not far from the crime scene.
The rest of the jewels are still missing. Minister Dati said that the thieves managed to seize “a priceless loot.”
'Shock' and 'great vulnerability': Officials’ reactions
The mayor of Central Paris, Ariel Weil, said that the audacious robbery of the Louvre was a shock for him personally and for the public.
“This is a shock... and it will inevitably raise security concerns. Clearly, we’ve entered an ‘Arsène Lupin’ film. Until now, that was just a movie plot. It’s hard to imagine that robbing the Louvre could seem so easy,” he said.
France’s Interior Minister Nuñez stated that, in terms of security, French museums, unfortunately, have a great vulnerability. According to him, law enforcement is now doing everything possible to quickly find the culprits and recover the stolen items.
The Paris Prosecutor’s Office has already announced the launch of an investigation, which was assigned to the Banditry Repression Brigade of the Judicial Police (BRB). Preliminary reports suggest that foreigners may have been involved in the theft.
President Emmanuel Macron, according to the Élysée Palace, has been informed about the incident and is being updated on the situation in real time.
One French senator stated that the Interior Minister had been warned about security issues at the Louvre. On October 16, museum employees went on a general strike, which meant that no one could have prevented the perpetrators from conducting detailed reconnaissance. For unclear reasons, the senator said, the Ministry of the Interior ignored the warnings.
The Louvre is one of the most famous museums in the world. It is located in the center of Paris. Once a royal palace, today it houses over 35,000 exhibits, including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.
The museum has survived many cases of robberies, thefts, art swaps, and attacks, but the heist of October 19, 2025, will certainly go down in its history as one of the most daring ever.
Sources used: Le Parisien, TF1, official statements by French government representatives on social media and in live broadcasts, as well as open-source materials.
