Brazen Heist at the Louvre: Priceless Jewels Stolen from the Galerie d’Apollon

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Update, 15:57 – the Corriere della Sera states that a second jewel has been found. The news is still to be confirmed.

Paris — Sunday, 19 October 2025 — In a daring morning raid, thieves broke into the Louvre Museum in Paris and made off with historic jewels of “inestimable” value, plunging one of the world’s most-famous cultural institutions into crisis. (AP News)

At around 9:30 a.m. local time, while the museum was open to the public, a team of three to four experienced intruders accessed the building through an exterior window on the Seine-facing façade, reportedly using a construction basket lift connected with ongoing renovation work. (AP News) They swiftly cut into the glass display cases of the ornate Galerie d’Apollon—home to France’s royal and imperial jewels—using angle-grinders or chainsaws, and were gone in less than seven minutes. (The Guardian)

Moments later, visitors were escorted out and the museum was shut down “for exceptional reasons,” as the authorities sealed off the site and launched a forensic investigation. (AP News)

According to the French Interior Ministry, the stolen items are not simply jewellery but national patrimony—objects of historic and heritage value that go far beyond simple market price. (Financial Times) Although officials have not yet provided a full catalogue, some media reports suggest the haul may include nine pieces associated with Napoleon I and Empress Eugénie, one of which was later recovered outside the museum in damaged condition. (AP News)

The recovered jewel is Empress Eugenie’s Crown, a masterpiece that, with its 1354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, testifies of the splendours of the French Second Empire.

No injuries were reported in the incident. (Reuters) Security officials say the operation was highly organised, suggesting the perpetrators “scouted the location” ahead of time and exploited the construction zone to gain access. (The Guardian)

This heist occurs as the Louvre is undergoing a major €700 million modernisation project announced this year by Emmanuel Macron, aimed at easing overcrowding and upgrading its infrastructure—issues that union-officials warn have stretched museum security in recent months. (AP News)

As Paris’s flagship museum for national and international treasures—including the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace—the Louvre draws more than eight million visits a year. The scale and speed of this theft underline the extraordinary value and vulnerability of cultural heritage. (Financial Times)

The investigation is ongoing. Paris police and the museum’s security team are reviewing surveillance footage, tracking escape routes, and collaborating with international law-enforcement agencies. Visitors are advised to follow updates via the museum’s official channels.