BY FRANCESCA RAPISARDA
The Louvre Museum in Paris remains closed today after a dramatic daylight robbery that saw thieves steal France’s priceless crown jewels in what authorities have called one of the most audacious art crimes in decades.
According to reports from BBC News and French officials, four masked thieves used a vehicle-mounted lift to access the Louvre’s Galerie d’Apollon, home to the nation’s royal treasures, around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. Wielding power tools, they smashed through glass panes and display cases before fleeing on scooters with eight pieces of 19th-century jewellery, including tiaras, emerald necklaces, and diamond brooches once owned by French royalty.
Two items, including Empress Eugénie’s crown, were later found near the scene, apparently dropped during the getaway. French Culture Minister Rachida Dati described the robbers as “calm and well-prepared,” saying they appeared “experienced” and acted with “military precision.”
Early investigations suggest part of the gallery’s alarm system had been malfunctioning, though the museum’s wider security response was activated immediately. Around 60 police investigators are now working on the case, reviewing CCTV footage and examining the recovered items for evidence.
President Emmanuel Macron condemned the theft as “an attack on our history,” while opposition leader Marine Le Pen called it “a wound to the French soul.”
Experts have warned that the stolen jewels, which are considered irreplaceable pieces of national heritage, could be dismantled and sold in parts. “The thieves will likely melt down the metals and recut the stones to hide their crime,” said art recovery specialist Chris Marinello, quoted by BBC News.
The Louvre, which receives millions of visitors each year, has announced it will remain closed while investigations continue. Visitors with existing bookings are being automatically refunded.
The robbery has reignited debate over museum security in France, following a string of high-profile thefts from cultural institutions over the past year.
The Louvre is expected to reopen later this week, though officials have not confirmed a date.
