Four masked intruders strike in broad daylight looting priceless jewels, vanish on scooters
Paris At 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, just 30 minutes after the Louvre Museum opened, four thieves launched one of the most audacious museum robberies in living memory. The heist took place in the Galerie d’Apollon, which houses imperial and royal jewels.

The thieves arrived in a stolen truck with a mounted basket lift, posing as construction workers in hi‑vis vests. They climbed to a second-floor window, cut through the glass with angle grinders, and smashed into two display cases. They stole eight items including jewelry tied to Napoleon I’s wife Marie‑Louise and Empress Eugénie, and escaped on high-speed scooters, leaving a damaged crown behind.

The total value of the stolen jewels is around €88 million, but officials say the cultural loss is inestimable. The operation lasted less than seven minutes, and investigators are reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV footage. Two suspects have partially admitted their role, and five additional arrests have now been made, including the other two who partially admitted involvement. The stolen jewels are still missing, and authorities warn that if the gems are altered or sold, they may never be recovered.