Thieves broke into the Louvre in Paris and stole valuable jewelry before fleeing on motorcycles, French officials said Sunday.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called the robbery a “major robbery” that “lasted seven minutes.” Speaking to France Inter, he said the thieves “entered from outside using a basket lift” and “a disc cutter” to cut windows containing precious jewels.
“The investigation has begun and a detailed list of the stolen items is being compiled,” the ministry said in a statement. “In addition to their market value, these items have invaluable heritage and historical value.”
The museum reported on X that it would remain closed that day for “exceptional reasons,” although it did not immediately provide details. No injuries have been reported.
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Police officers stand near the pyramid of the Louvre Museum after reports of a robbery in Paris, France, October 19, 2025. (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes)
According to the French daily Le Parisien, the thieves entered through a section of the museum under construction along the River Seine.
The crew reportedly used a freight elevator to access a room in the Apollo Gallery, which houses some of the French Crown Jewels.
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Forensic police officers arrive at the Louvre museum after reports of a robbery in Paris, France, October 19, 2025. (Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes)
The crew stole “nine pieces from the jewelry collection of Napoleon and the Empress,” including a crown believed to have belonged to Empress Eugénie, the newspaper reported. The crown was later found broken outside the museum, the report said.
FILE – People walk outside the Louvre museum, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in Paris. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, file)
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The Louvre is home to more than 33,000 works of antiquity, sculpture and painting – from Mesopotamian artefacts and Egyptian relics to masterpieces by European artists. Iconic treasures include the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
