Louvre Heist: €88 Million French Crown Jewels Stolen in Daring Daylight Raid

Paris, France – Eight pieces of French Crown Jewels, valued at an estimated €88 million, were stolen from the Louvre Museum on October 19, 2025, in a brazen daylight robbery. The incident, which saw thieves gain entry during regular operating hours, has sparked widespread concern over security at the world-renowned institution. Social media commentator Michael Brandt reflected public sentiment, stating in a tweet, "Not saying the heist was staged, but the Louvre overnight is now more top-of-mind than anytime in recent memory."

The audacious theft unfolded around 9:30 AM when four individuals, disguised as construction workers, utilized a vehicle-mounted mechanical lift to reach a first-floor window of the Galerie d'Apollon. Using power tools, they cut through the window, triggering alarms, and then threatened museum guards before smashing display cases containing the historic jewels. The entire operation lasted less than eight minutes, with the thieves escaping on scooters.

Louvre Director Laurence des Cars acknowledged significant security lapses, telling senators that external cameras in the area of entry were not adequately positioned to detect the intruders. French Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed the incident, stating, "A robbery took morning at the opening of the Louvre museum," and emphasized that no injuries were reported. The Paris prosecutor's office has launched an investigation, with two suspects arrested on October 25th in connection with the heist.

The stolen items, which include artifacts from the Napoleonic era, were promptly added to Interpol's Stolen Works of Art database. The museum was evacuated and remained closed for several days, reopening on October 22nd, though the Galerie d'Apollon remains shuttered. This incident marks the most significant art theft from the Louvre since 1998 and has intensified calls for a comprehensive overhaul of security measures at France's cultural institutions.