Daylight Heist at the Louvre Museum

Early Sunday morning, a group of thieves executed a bold robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, stealing jewelry once owned by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

The criminals reportedly used a mechanical lift and an angle grinder—tools you’d usually see on construction sites—to reach a second-floor balcony, breaking into the iconic museum through its windows to access the Apollo Gallery. This information was shared by Parisian news outlets.

Three masked individuals managed to grab nine pieces of jewelry before escaping on two scooters, causing panic among tourists as police rushed to the scene.

It was reported that the entire operation took them only ten minutes, from 9:30 to 9:40. Items taken included necklaces, brooches, and tiaras, and forensic experts are now working to compile a detailed list of what was stolen, along with their exact worth.

Determining their value, though, may go beyond mere currency.

In an interesting twist, one item—a crown thought to belong to Napoleon’s wife, Empress Eugénie—was reportedly left behind or dropped outside the exhibition hall, according to local reports.

Fortunately, there were no injuries reported from the incident, which involved weapons.

The Louvre houses world-renowned artworks like the “Venus de Milo” and Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” making it a significant cultural landmark that draws around 9 million visitors annually, averaging around 25,000 guests each day.

This robbery could not have come at a worse time, as the museum had recently faced controversy including a summer closure due to staff strikes over overcrowding and staffing issues.

Union representatives expressed concerns that the tourism boom might be compromising safety standards.

In the aftermath, some conservative politicians described the robbery as a “disgrace,” pointing to it as a symptom of the broader decline in national security. One politician made a statement about the cultural humiliation the incident represents for France.

The theft occurred in a part of the museum under construction, raising questions about whether the elevator used for access was left in position as part of that work.

Sources indicated that the suspects were dressed like construction workers, with hoods concealing their faces. One stayed outside as a lookout while the others accessed the jewelry storage.

Due to the distinctive nature of the stolen items, authorities are worried that the thieves might melt down the jewelry to sell off the gold, which would erase its historical significance and make it hard to track.

One investigator expressed concern that some of the diamonds could end up in retail stores, complicating efforts to recover the stolen pieces.