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Thieves steal jewels in seven-minute heist at Louvre

A group of professional thieves stole jewels of “inestimable value” in a coordinated seven-minute heist at the Louvre in Paris, French officials said on Sunday as the art museum shut down for the day.

Police were investigating the robbery and how it took place on Sunday morning. Preliminary details revealed the thieves used a mechanised lift to access upstairs windows for entry, per French newspaper Le Parisien. After breaking the windows, the culprits bagged nine Napoleonic jewels left on display and fled on scooters.

Damage from the robbery is currently being assessed as police investigate the matter.

“The investigation has begun, and a detailed list of the stolen items is being compiled,” the French Interior Ministry said in a statement. “Beyond their market value, these items have priceless heritage and historical value.”

A necklace, brooch, and tiara were among the stolen items, according to reports.

At least four thieves orchestrated the daytime heist. There were no injuries reported.

A police car patrols in the courtyard of the closed Louvre museum after a robbery Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A police car patrols in the courtyard of the closed Louvre museum after a robbery Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said the thieves “acted professionally, without any violence and without any panic.” The robbery unfolded as the Louvre was open to visitors around 9:30 a.m. Sunday local time.

The museum is now closed amid the investigation.

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Investigators later found a piece of jewelry near the museum after it was apparently dropped during the criminals’ escape, according to Dati. It remains unclear what the recovered item is.

The Louvre is home to the Mona Lisa, the famous oil painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The artwork was once stolen by a former Louvre employee in 1911 and was recovered two years later when the thief tried to sell it. Because of its international coverage at the time, the incident helped make the Mona Lisa the world’s most famous painting.

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