Thieves strike Louvre in brazen jewel heist as the world's most visited museum shutters

"PARIS, France -- In a brazen, seven-minute strike, thieves used a basket lift to reach the Louvre on Sunday morning and, as tourists were already inside, forced a window, smashed display cases and fled with jewels of "inestimable value," France's interior minister said. The world's most visited museum closed for the day as police sealed gates and ushered visitors out during the investigation."

"Around 9:30 a.m., several intruders forced open a window, stole jewels from vitrines and escaped on two-wheelers, according to the Interior Ministry. It said forensic work is underway and a precise inventory of the stolen objects is being compiled, adding that the items have "inestimable" historical value. Dati and Nuñez were on site with museum leadership. Video from the scene showed confused tourists being ushered out of the glass pyramid and surrounding courtyards as officers shut the iron gates and closed nearby streets along the Seine."

The theft occurred shortly after 9:30 a.m. at the Louvre, where intruders used a basket lift to reach the Seine-facing facade, forced open a window and smashed display cases. The heist lasted about seven minutes; the thieves used a disc cutter to slice through panes and escaped on two-wheelers. The robbery targeted the Galerie d'Apollon in the Denon wing, which displays part of the French Crown Jewels beneath a painted vault. Authorities closed the museum, sealed gates, and began forensic work while compiling a precise inventory; several ministers and museum leadership were on site. The stolen items are described as having inestimable historical value.

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