Louvre Museum in Paris closes after thieves steal jewels of 'inestimable value' before fleeing

"The Interior Ministry said that around 9:30 a.m. several intruders forced open a window, stole jewels from vitrines and fled on two-wheelers. The ministry said forensic work is underway and a precise inventory of the stolen objects is being compiled, adding that the items have "inestimable" historical and patrimonial value. Dati and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez were on site with museum leadership."

"On France Inter, Nuñez described a "major robbery," saying the intruders "entered from the outside using a basket lift," that the operation lasted seven minutes, and that the panes were cut with a disc cutter. He said it was "manifestly a team that had done scouting." Separately, the Interior Ministry specified the location as the Galerie d'Apollon. Le Parisien reported the thieves entered via the Seine-facing facade, where construction is underway, and used a freight elevator to reach the gallery."

"After breaking windows, they reportedly stole nine pieces from the jewellery collection of Napoleon and the Empress, the paper said. Le Parisien also reported that one stolen jewel was later found outside the museum. Citing early investigative findings, the paper said it was believed to be Empress Eugénie's crown and that it had been broken."

Several intruders forced open a window at the Louvre around 9:30 a.m., smashed display cases and fled on two-wheelers with jewels of inestimable historical and patrimonial value. Police sealed off the museum, evacuated visitors, turned away new arrivals and closed nearby streets while forensic teams compiled a precise inventory of the stolen objects. Officials including Culture Minister Rachida Dati and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez were on site. Investigators said the operation lasted seven minutes, panes were cut with a disc cutter, and the intruders used a basket lift and likely scouted the site beforehand. Early reports said nine pieces from Napoleon and the Empress's jewellery were taken, with one jewel later found outside and believed to be Empress Eugénie's broken crown.

Read at Irish Independent