Louvre Museum Jewelry Heist: Occurred in 7 Minutes

Historic Theft Incident in France

France's Minister of Culture Rachida Dati announced a theft that occurred during the opening of the Louvre Museum via an account of a US-based social media company.

The Heist and Aftermath

Minister Dati reported that there were no injuries during the robbery and that both museum staff and police teams were present at the scene.

Additionally, the Louvre Museum announced that it would remain closed due to “extraordinary reasons.”

The Thieves' Escape

France's Minister of the Interior Laurent Nunez stated in an interview with France Inter radio that 3 or 4 thieves stole priceless jewels from the Apollo Gallery, where the royal jewels are displayed, and that the heist only lasted 7 minutes.

According to reports in the French press, a total of 9 historical jewelry pieces were stolen from the museum. An investigation has been initiated, but the thieves have yet to be caught.

Stolen Jewels and Security

According to the newspaper Le Parisien, one of the stolen jewels was found broken outside the museum. The report stated that the piece, suspected to have been dropped by the thieves during their escape, belonged to the crown of Empress Eugenie, the wife of III. Napoleon.

After the robbery, the museum was closed to visitors through a controlled evacuation, but tourists had the opportunity to take photos from behind a security barrier.

Political Reactions and Security Concerns

Additionally, Jordan Bardella, Secretary General of the far-right National Rally (RN) Party, emphasized in a statement regarding the theft that this incident is an “unacceptable humiliation” for our country, adding that the Louvre is a cultural symbol.