PARIS and LONDON — A number of folks disguised as building staff broke into the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday, cracking open show circumstances and stealing jewellery that after belonged to the Emperor Napoleon and his spouse, officers stated.
A minimum of 9 items of bijou of “inestimable heritage and historic worth” have been taken within the brazen heist earlier than the thieves made their getaway on bikes, two ministers stated.
The suspects “broke open” a window and entered the museum’s Apollo Gallery, which homes the French crown jewels, amongst different artifacts, at about 9:30 a.m. native time on Sunday, the museum stated in a press release. The main points of the items that have been taken throughout the brazen theft had not but been made public.
“Investigations have begun, and a exact record of the stolen objects is underway,” the museum stated in a press release.
French cops examine an alleged theft on the Louvre Museum, on Quai Francois Mitterrand, in Paris on Oct. 19, 2025.
Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP by way of Getty Photos
French Inside Minister Laurent Nunez in an interview on native radio stated the worth of the objects can be “inestimable.”
A minimum of three suspects appeared to have been concerned, Nunez stated.
He stated they appeared to have used a building ladder to enter the constructing.
The alleged theft took about seven minutes, he stated.
The thieves have been carrying building employee uniforms and hoods over their heads, stated an investigator from the Banditry Repression Brigade, a particular police unit of the French Ministry of the Inside that investigates robberies and artwork theft.
The investigators stated that it seems two of the thieves entered the Apollo Gallery and one stayed outdoors. He stated the thieves used small chainsaws to crack open circumstances displaying the jewellery.
Law enforcement officials stand close to the pyramid of the Louvre museum after stories of a theft, in Paris, France, Oct. 19, 2025.
Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
A notification posted on the museum’s web site shortly afterward stated, “The Louvre Museum will stay closed at the moment for distinctive causes. We thanks to your understanding.”
The choice to shut the museum was made collectively by its administration, the police and the Ministry of the Inside, museum officers stated in a press release. The doorways have been closed as “a safety measure and to protect traces and proof for the investigation,” the assertion stated.
Kaci Benedetti, who was visiting Paris from the US, instructed ABC Information she was standing in line to enter the museum on Sunday when a commotion started. Police have been operating alongside the courtyard the place Benedetti and her household have been ready, she stated.
Forensic cops arrive on the Louvre museum after stories of a theft, in Paris, France, Oct. 19, 2025.
Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
She watched because the officers tried to enter the constructing via a aspect door, however “couldn’t as a result of they have been locked,” she stated.
“We may see folks inside operating and a few have been banging on the glass doorways to get out, however couldn’t as a result of they have been locked,” Benedetti stated. “Then police and navy police arrived. After about an hour they introduced the Louvre was closed for at the moment.”
The information of the theft got here first from French Minister of Tradition Rachida Dati, who stated on social media, “A theft happened this morning on the opening of the Louvre Museum.”
Dati added, “No accidents to report. I’m on web site alongside the museum groups and the police. Investigations underway.”
ABC Information’ Victoria Beaule contributed to this report.
