Daring Louvre Heist: €88 Million Worth of Historic Jewels Stolen in Broad Daylight

Paris, The Gulf Observer: Jewelry worth an estimated €88 million (£76 million; $102 million) was stolen from the Louvre Museum in a bold daylight robbery, French authorities confirmed on Tuesday. The stolen pieces, which include crown jewels and priceless artifacts gifted by two Napoleons to their wives, represent what officials have described as an “extraordinary loss” to France’s cultural heritage.

According to Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau, who cited information from the museum’s curator, the theft took place in less than eight minutes on Sunday morning, shortly after the world’s most-visited museum opened its doors to the public. “The monetary value is extraordinary, but the greater loss is to our national heritage,” Beccuau told RTL radio.

Among the items stolen were a diamond and emerald necklace presented by Emperor Napoleon to his wife, a tiara once worn by Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, and several jewels owned by Queen Marie-Amélie. A damaged crown belonging to Empress Eugénie was later found on the thieves’ escape route, apparently dropped during their hurried departure.

Four masked thieves reportedly used a modified truck with a mechanical lift to access the museum’s Galerie d’Apollon via a balcony overlooking the River Seine. Two of them broke through a first-floor glass window using battery-powered cutting tools, threatened the guards, and forced an evacuation before escaping with the loot.

The robbers attempted to set fire to their vehicle, but their plan was foiled by quick-thinking museum staff. Witnesses saw the perpetrators flee on scooters moments later.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the incident as “an attack on France’s heritage,” while Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged serious lapses in museum security. A preliminary investigation revealed that one in three rooms at the Louvre lacked CCTV coverage and that the alarm system failed to activate during the heist.

“The thieves being able to drive a modified truck up to the museum leaves us with a terrible image,” Darmanin said, calling for an urgent review of security measures across national cultural institutions.

Authorities believe the robbers were part of a highly organized and professional group. Experts warn that the stolen jewels may already have been dismantled, melted down, or smuggled abroad.

Art recovery specialists told the BBC that investigators had a narrow window—just one or two days—to recover the items before they would likely be lost forever.

Ms. Beccuau expressed hope that publicizing the jewelry’s immense value might discourage the culprits from destroying them. “They will not gain what they expect if they make the very bad decision to melt down these jewels,” she cautioned.

The investigation remains ongoing as French police intensify efforts to track down the thieves and recover the irreplaceable treasures.