On October 19, Sunday morning, a daring robbery occurred at the Paris Louvre. The thieves took just seven minutes to steal valuable jewelry that once belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as other precious items. This robbery has become the most notable since 1911, when the famous "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci was stolen, according to the BBC.
The prosecution has launched an investigation on suspicion of "organized theft and conspiracy to commit a crime." Investigative bodies specializing in combating the illegal trafficking of cultural valuables are involved in the work. "An assessment of the damage is currently underway," the prosecution reports. According to the latest information, four individuals participated in the robbery, fleeing the scene on scooters while covering their faces.
In an interview with TF1, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati stated that one of the stolen items was found near the museum, where it was apparently left by the robbers. According to several French media outlets, this turned out to be a 19th-century crown that belonged to Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, which was discovered in damaged condition.
According to information from the Louvre's website, the crown is adorned with golden eagles and is encrusted with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds.
The crown of Empress Eugenie was discarded by the robbers
In the evening, the prosecution published a list of the stolen items.
According to Paris prosecutor Laura Bekyuo in an interview with BFMTV, among the stolen jewels were:
- a necklace and earring from the collection of Marie-Louise, wife of Napoleon I;
- a necklace, a pair of earrings, and a diadem belonging to Maria Amalia, wife of King Louis-Philippe I, and Hortense de Beauharnais, mother of Napoleon III;
- two brooches, a corsage bow, and the diadem of Empress Eugenie.
The diadem of Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III
The necklace of Maria Amalia of Naples, wife of King Louis-Philippe of France
According to Rachida Dati, the robbers "acted professionally, without violence or panic."
The museum closed that day "for exceptional reasons," as previously reported.
Rachida Dati was the first to report the incident on her account on X.
The Ministry of the Interior clarified that around 09:30 local time (07:30 GMT), several individuals entered the Apollo Gallery by breaking a window.
According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, three or four robbers used a lift parked outside.
Once inside, the criminals stole jewelry from the display cases and fled on scooters. Nunez stated that the entire operation took only seven minutes.
In addition to their commercial value, the ministry emphasizes that these items have immense historical and cultural significance.
The Apollo Gallery, referred to by the French Ministry of the Interior, houses the remaining jewels of the French crown.
After the monarchy was overthrown during the French Revolution, many of these items were either sold or lost, but the Louvre still holds some jewels acquired later for the emperors Napoleon and Napoleon III and their wives—Empresses Marie-Louise and Eugenie.
According to information on the museum's website, among the most valuable exhibits in the gallery are diamonds known as the Regent Diamond, "Sancy," and "Hortensia."
The Louvre is home to many famous works of art, including Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," the most renowned of its collections.
BBC correspondent in Paris Andrew Harding reports that police have restricted access to the Louvre, including one of the main roads along the riverbank.
The investigation is focused on the southeast corner of the building facing the Seine.
A large retractable ladder on a mechanized lift, similar to those used for delivering furniture to upper floors in Paris, has been installed there. Police suspect that this was how the robbers accessed one of the upper floors.
The district mayor could not confirm whether this ladder was installed for repairs or if the thieves placed it there intentionally.
Thefts from the Louvre are rare, as the museum has reliable security, but such incidents do occur. The most famous robbery took place in 1911 when the "Mona Lisa" was stolen.
At that time, police questioned poet Guillaume Apollinaire and artist Pablo Picasso, but it soon became clear that the painting was stolen by an Italian who wanted to return it to his country.
It was found three years later in Florence and returned to Paris when it was not yet as famous as it is now.
Additionally, in 1983, elements of 16th-century armor were stolen from the museum, which were only found in 2011.
Recently, in 1998, a painting by Camille Corot was stolen. "Le Chemin de Sevres" (The Road to Sevres) was simply taken off the wall, and no one noticed. As a result, the museum's security system was significantly strengthened, but the painting has not been recovered.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez noted that "French museums are generally vulnerable."
Recently, several major thefts have occurred. In September, thieves stole gold worth 600,000 euros from the Natural History Museum in Paris, and items worth 6.5 million euros were stolen from the Limoges Porcelain Museum.
French President Emmanuel Macron promised to recover the artworks and hold those responsible accountable.
“The theft at the Louvre is an attack on our heritage, which we cherish as part of our history,” he wrote on social media.
He assured that the country's authorities are actively working to improve the museum's security.
