Thieves made off with priceless Napoleonic jewels in a daylight heist at the Louvre on Sunday, dropping one crown as they fled. Eight pieces were stolen from the museum’s Apollo gallery, home to France’s historic crown jewels, but the criminals left behind the immensely valuable crown of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III.
The four robbers, wearing balaclavas, arrived at the museum along the Seine at around 9:30am. Using a vehicle-mounted extendable ladder, they reached a second-floor balcony window, where two thieves broke in with an angle grinder and other power tools. The heist was completed in just seven minutes.
Among the stolen items were a necklace and earrings given by Napoleon I to his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise, and a diadem, brooch and decorative bow belonging to Empress Eugénie. A tiara, necklace and single earring from a sapphire set worn by the last queen of France, Marie-Amelie, were also taken. The thieves dropped Eugénie’s crown, covered in 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, and missed the Regent diamond, valued at over £45 million.
The gang escaped on motorbikes, leaving behind some equipment and attempting to set their vehicle on fire, which was prevented by a museum staff member. A team of 60 investigators is working on the theory that an organised crime group was behind the theft, according to officials.
The heist has reignited criticism over security flaws in French museums. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez admitted that securing museums is a “major weak spot,” while Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged failures that allowed the thieves to park a hoist in central Paris and steal priceless jewels. The Louvre, which has a history of thefts including the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa, had not suffered a robbery since 1998, when a painting by Camille Corot was stolen.
