 "French police officers stand in front of the Louvre Museum after robbery, in Paris on October 19. Robbers broke in to the Louvre and fled with jewellery. AFP")
The Louvre museum stayed closed on Monday, October 20, following a daring daylight robbery in which thieves stole priceless jewels. A team of 60 investigators is searching for the suspects, who took eight items from the museum’s Galerie d’Apollon, home to the French crown jewels, in just seven minutes.
Authorities later recovered a 19th-century crown belonging to Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, adorned with golden eagles, 1,354 diamonds, and 56 emeralds.
The museum posted on its website: “Following yesterday’s robbery at the Louvre, the museum regrets to inform you that it will remain closed to the public today.” Earlier, visitors were seen waiting in queues across the pyramid courtyard.
Security review across France
France announced on Monday it would review security at cultural sites nationwide and strengthen protections where needed. The thieves had used a crane to smash an upstairs window, grab the jewels, and escape on motorbikes.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin admitted lapses in security, telling France Inter radio: “We have failed, since people were able to park a furniture hoist in the middle of Paris, get people up it in several minutes to grab priceless jewels and give France a terrible image.”
Culture Minister Rachida Dati said, “For too long we focused on visitor safety but not on protecting artworks,” adding she hopes to fast-track security upgrades in museums.
Emergency meeting convened
The robbery, dubbed the “heist of the century” by several newspapers, raised urgent questions about the safety of France’s cultural heritage. The Louvre, which welcomed 8.7 million visitors in 2024 and houses iconic works like the Mona Lisa, became the focus of national concern.
Following the theft, the Culture and Interior Ministers held an emergency meeting and instructed officials across France to immediately assess and strengthen security at cultural institutions.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsManhunt under way
The robbery lasted just six to seven minutes. Four unarmed suspects threatened guards with angle grinders before fleeing. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed the details, and Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said a specialist police unit, known for solving high-profile thefts, is leading the investigation.
