Thieves carried out a daring daylight robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday, stealing what French authorities described as “priceless” jewellery before escaping on motorbikes.
The heist occurred around 9:30 a.m. (0730 GMT) in the Galerie d’Apollon, which houses the renowned French Crown Jewels, shortly after the museum had opened to the public.
According to a statement from the Interior Ministry, the suspects gained access by breaking through a window, quickly targeting select items before making their getaway.
While officials did not immediately disclose the specific pieces stolen, they emphasized that the missing items hold immense heritage and historical significance, far beyond their monetary value.
“The investigation has begun, and a detailed list of the stolen items is being compiled. Beyond their market value, these items have priceless heritage and historical value,” the ministry said. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among visitors, staff, or responding officers during the theft.
The Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum and home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, announced on social media platform X that it would remain closed for the day due to “exceptional reasons.” The museum’s management expressed deep concern over the incident, assuring that it is cooperating fully with the authorities to recover the stolen treasures.
This shocking theft has reignited concerns about the security of major cultural landmarks in France. Earlier this year, Louvre officials had appealed for government assistance to fund urgent restoration and modernization efforts aimed at preserving and protecting its vast art collections and historical artifacts.
The museum, which attracted 8.7 million visitors in 2024, stands as one of the world’s foremost cultural institutions. The loss of any part of its historic collection marks not just a blow to France’s cultural heritage but to global art history as well.
