Telegraph
A manhunt is under way after thieves broke into the Louvre and stole “priceless” jewellery that once belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte’s family.
The gang entered the Apollo Gallery in broad daylight shortly after 9.30am, once the gallery had opened to the public, and stole nine items including a necklace, a brooch and a tiara.
The masked criminals arrived on high-powered scooters and reportedly gained access to a part of the building where construction was taking place after using a van-mounted extendable ladder to enter on the Seine River side of the museum.
The theft occurred in the Apollo Gallery, a vaulted hall in the Denon wing that displays part of the French Crown Jewels beneath a ceiling painted by King Louis XIV’s court artist, according to the ministry.
Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said that four men, at least one of who was wearing a high-vis jacket had carried out the burglary.
Ms Beccuau said that two of the men had driven the grey Mitsubishi freight elevator to the scene with the other two following on high-powered scooters.
The magistrate said that the alarms at the Louvre were working and the men threatened the guards with angle grinders they used to break into the display cases.
She said the gang then all fled on the scooters leaving the freight vehicle behind.
Reports claimed that at the crime scene police found two angle grinders, a blow torch, gloves and a blanket. A yellow vest was found nearby.
Footage apparently filmed from inside the Apollo gallery, obtained by French broadcaster BFMTV, shows one man in a hi-vis vest using an angle grinder to break open a display cabinet.
The Louvre was evacuated after the raid and will be closed for the rest of the day.
The opulent, gold-gilded hall houses 23 of the museum’s most valuable French crown jewels and precious stones.
The items that were stolen include a number of pieces that make up the French Crown Jewels.
Among them were a sapphire necklace, earrings and a tiara belonging to Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense.
Also believed to have been stolen were an emerald necklace and earrings belonging to Empress Marie-Louise, the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, which were given to her as a wedding present.
A brooch belonging to Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugenie was also taken, as well as a large diamond corsage bow which was bought from a private owner in the US for £5.8 million in 2008.
Le Parisien newspaper reported that one of the items taken was the Eugénie Crown. However, the gang appear to have dropped and broken it while making their escape.
Ariel Weil, the mayor of Paris Centre, said: “It’s a shock… It’s been a movie script up until now. It’s hard to imagine that it’s seemingly so easy to rob the Louvre.”
A manhunt is under way after thieves broke into the Louvre and stole “priceless” jewellery that once belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte’s family.
The gang entered the Apollo Gallery in broad daylight shortly after 9.30am, once the gallery had opened to the public, and stole nine items including a necklace, a brooch and a tiara.
The masked criminals arrived on high-powered scooters and reportedly gained access to a part of the building where construction was taking place after using a van-mounted extendable ladder to enter on the Seine River side of the museum.
They then forced open a window, smashed display cases, grabbed the jewellery and left.They walked into Louvre Museum at 9:30 a.m.
— Culture Explorer (@CultureExploreX) October 19, 2025
Used a crane. Smashed a window.
Stole the French crown jewels in 4 minutes.
No violence. Just precision.
If a world-famous museum can be robbed in broad daylight… what does that say about the guardians of culture? pic.twitter.com/cUn0DX9qnx
The theft occurred in the Apollo Gallery, a vaulted hall in the Denon wing that displays part of the French Crown Jewels beneath a ceiling painted by King Louis XIV’s court artist, according to the ministry.
Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said that four men, at least one of who was wearing a high-vis jacket had carried out the burglary.
Ms Beccuau said that two of the men had driven the grey Mitsubishi freight elevator to the scene with the other two following on high-powered scooters.
The magistrate said that the alarms at the Louvre were working and the men threatened the guards with angle grinders they used to break into the display cases.
She said the gang then all fled on the scooters leaving the freight vehicle behind.
Reports claimed that at the crime scene police found two angle grinders, a blow torch, gloves and a blanket. A yellow vest was found nearby.
Footage apparently filmed from inside the Apollo gallery, obtained by French broadcaster BFMTV, shows one man in a hi-vis vest using an angle grinder to break open a display cabinet.
Mr Nuñez told Le Monde newspaper that “three or four thieves” had broken into the Apollo Gallery minutes after the museum opened to the public.And here are the first images from the Louvre heist — inside the Apollo Gallery, where it all took place.
— Muse (@xmuse_) October 19, 2025
A man dressed as a construction worker breaks open a display case.
Museum visitors walk by, unaware that a robbery is unfolding right beside them.
How does something so… https://t.co/whDblfNiYY pic.twitter.com/LQv6jCFqs9
The Louvre was evacuated after the raid and will be closed for the rest of the day.
The opulent, gold-gilded hall houses 23 of the museum’s most valuable French crown jewels and precious stones.
The items that were stolen include a number of pieces that make up the French Crown Jewels.
Among them were a sapphire necklace, earrings and a tiara belonging to Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense.
Also believed to have been stolen were an emerald necklace and earrings belonging to Empress Marie-Louise, the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, which were given to her as a wedding present.
A brooch belonging to Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugenie was also taken, as well as a large diamond corsage bow which was bought from a private owner in the US for £5.8 million in 2008.
Le Parisien newspaper reported that one of the items taken was the Eugénie Crown. However, the gang appear to have dropped and broken it while making their escape.
According to the Louvre’s website, the crown features golden eagles and is covered in 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds.The crown of Empress Eugénie (1826–1920), stolen earlier today, has been found broken outside the Louvre Museum. pic.twitter.com/UpZngTi9Ed
— Masterpieces of France (@FrenchArt_) October 19, 2025
Ariel Weil, the mayor of Paris Centre, said: “It’s a shock… It’s been a movie script up until now. It’s hard to imagine that it’s seemingly so easy to rob the Louvre.”
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