**Brazen Seven-Minute Heist at the Louvre Museum: Priceless Jewelry Stolen in Broad Daylight**
Thieves executed a daring seven-minute robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday morning, breaking into the world-renowned landmark using a basket lift. They forced open a window, smashed display cases, and stole jewelry described by France’s interior minister and museum officials as having “inestimable value.”
The break-in occurred in broad daylight around 9:30 a.m., while tourists were already inside the Louvre, the world’s most visited museum. The incident prompted the immediate closure of the museum as authorities launched an investigation. Police sealed the museum gates, escorted visitors out, and secured the area. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, according to Louvre spokespeople.
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed the robbery on social media, stating, “A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum.” The museum cited “exceptional reasons” for the closure to the public.
### Details of the Heist
According to a museum spokesperson, several individuals broke into the Louvre through the Galerie d’Apollon, a vaulted hall in the Denon wing known for displaying parts of the French Crown Jewels beneath a ceiling painted by King Louis XIV’s court artist. The thieves smashed windows and stole pieces of jewelry, reportedly including nine items linked to Napoleon and the Empress.
They fled the scene on motorcycles shortly after the heist. Security footage and eyewitness accounts revealed that they used a disc cutter to slice through glass panes. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the robbery as “major” and noted it was “manifestly a team that had done scouting” prior to the crime.
One stolen jewel, believed to be the broken crown of Empress Eugénie, was later found discarded outside the museum.
### Investigation Underway
The Louvre and France’s interior ministry confirmed that a detailed inventory of the stolen items is being compiled. The items are not only valuable on the market but hold exceptional heritage and historical significance.
Both ministers of culture and interior are working closely with museum management and law enforcement to recover the stolen pieces. Forensic examinations began immediately at the scene, with all possible measures being taken to track down the thieves.
### Security Concerns and Museum Staffing
The heist raises questions about museum security and staffing. The Louvre has faced criticism over overcrowding and understaffing, which has previously led to disruptions such as a staff walkout in June.
Notably, the Mona Lisa remains heavily protected by bulletproof glass and advanced display systems as part of the museum’s anti-theft measures. It is unclear whether staffing levels or other security challenges contributed to Sunday’s theft.
President Emmanuel Macron announced a €700 million, decade-long “Louvre New Renaissance” plan earlier this year aimed at modernizing infrastructure, easing crowding, and giving Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece its own dedicated gallery by 2031. However, workers say progress has been slow on the ground.
### Historical Context of Museum Thefts
The Louvre has a long history of thefts and attempted robberies. The most famous occurred in 1911 when the Mona Lisa was stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia, a former museum worker who hid inside and walked out with the painting hidden under his coat. The artwork was recovered two years later in Florence, cementing its status as the world’s best-known painting.
Recent European museum heists echo Sunday’s incident: in 2019, thieves broke into Dresden’s Green Vault and stole diamond-studded royal jewels worth hundreds of millions of euros. In 2017, a 100-kilogram solid-gold coin was stolen from Berlin’s Bode Museum. And in 2010, a lone intruder inside Paris’s Museum of Modern Art escaped with five paintings, including a Picasso.
### The Louvre’s Collection and Popularity
Home to more than 33,000 works spanning antiquities, sculpture, and paintings from Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the classical world to European masters, the Louvre houses some of the most iconic artworks globally. Besides the Mona Lisa, its star attractions include the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
On a typical day, the museum attracts up to 30,000 visitors, underscoring its status as a pivotal cultural landmark.
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Authorities continue their investigation into the audacious robbery and remain hopeful that the priceless stolen jewels will be recovered swiftly. The incident has sparked renewed calls for enhanced security measures and attention to museum staffing challenges amid growing visitor numbers.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thieves-broke-into-louvre-museum-paris-stolen-jewelry/