Louvre shuts down after royal jewels stolen in daytime heist

The Louvre Museum in Paris, one of the most well-known museums globally, temporarily closed its doors on Sunday following a theft of royal jewels from its Galerie d’Apollon.

I was shocked to hear about the robbery in France! Apparently, it happened around 9:30 in the morning. The thieves were incredibly brazen – they used chainsaws and even a goods lift to get inside after smashing a window. What’s even more unbelievable is they got away with at least nine items, including some amazing historical jewelry that once belonged to Napoleon and Empress Eugénie! It’s just awful.

According to Le Parisien, a French news source, two items have been found so far, including the Empress’s crown, which was discovered damaged near the museum. Officials say the stolen items are historically priceless.

There was a robbery at the Louvre Museum this morning as it opened. Thankfully, no one was hurt. I’m currently at the scene with museum staff and the police, and we’re assessing the situation.

— Rachida Dati ن (@datirachida) October 19, 2025

According to Culture Minister Rachida Dati, no one was hurt during a break-in at the Louvre Museum, and police are looking into what happened. Officials stated the stolen items are priceless due to their historical and cultural significance, not just their monetary worth. The museum announced it was temporarily closed to allow staff to help with the investigation.

Historic theft at one of the world’s most secure museums

Despite its size and fame, the Louvre Museum hasn’t experienced many confirmed thefts. The most well-known happened in 1911 when someone stole Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa; it was found two years later. During World War II, when Nazis occupied France, there were attempts to steal from the museum, but staff managed to hide a lot of its valuable artwork.

BREAKING: France’s Louvre museum in Paris has been closed following a theft

— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) October 19, 2025

The recent theft at the Louvre is prompting a quick review of an €800 million ($870 million) security upgrade announced months ago by President Emmanuel Macron. The plan was designed to modernize the museum’s security and surveillance, but Sunday’s incident suggests it needs to be reevaluated.

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2025-10-19 16:48