Thieves broke into the Louvre museum in Paris on Sunday by using a crane to smash a window, stealing valuable jewelry from the area housing the French crown jewels before escaping on motorbikes. The French government highlighted concerns about security, noting a lack of investment in the museum, which had 8.7 million visitors in 2024.
The robbery occurred around 9:30 a.m. while the museum was open to the public. Culture Minister Rachida Dati stated that the thieves acted professionally, as the entire theft took only about four minutes. Footage showed they entered calmly, smashed display cases, and left without harming anyone. Dati mentioned that one stolen piece of jewelry was recovered outside the museum, believed to be the broken crown of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez indicated that three or four thieves used a crane positioned on a truck to access the museum and steal jewels of significant historical value. A specialized police unit has been assigned to investigate the incident. Despite the alarm, no injuries were reported, and the museum closed for the day due to “exceptional reasons. ” Earlier, Louvre officials had requested government assistance for renovations and improved security to protect its artworks from organized crime, highlighting a long-standing issue with securing major museums.
With information from Reuters