French authorities have launched a large-scale manhunt after a group of thieves carried out what investigators are calling “the theft of the decade” at the Louvre museum in Paris.
The Louvre museum robbery took place on Sunday morning, when several suspects used power tools and a mechanical ladder to break into the museum’s Apollo Gallery — home to France’s historic crown jewels.
According to BBC News, the robbers entered the building by climbing to an upper floor and breaking through a window before smashing glass display cases that held 19th-century jewels once belonging to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III.
The thieves fled within minutes, escaping on motorbikes waiting outside the museum.
The Louvre was immediately evacuated and closed “for exceptional reasons,” leaving thousands of tourists — many hoping to see the Mona Lisa — unable to enter.
Paris prosecutors confirmed that the thieves stole several items described as “priceless” and “of immeasurable heritage value.”
France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati said one of the stolen items, a gem-encrusted crown, was later found damaged near the museum’s perimeter.
France 24 reported that the heist lasted just seven minutes from the time the thieves entered the building to their escape. Security footage captured parts of the break-in, showing the group wearing black clothing and masks while using power tools to open reinforced cases.
Authorities said the speed and precision of the operation suggested the thieves had inside knowledge of the museum’s layout and security systems.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the theft as “an attack on France’s cultural heritage,” adding that a specialist anti-organised crime unit has been assigned to the investigation. “These are not just jewels; they are part of our national identity,” Nuñez said.
“Every effort is being made to recover the stolen artefacts and bring the perpetrators to justice.”
Art crime experts told France 24 that the recovered crown’s damage may complicate its restoration. Arthur Brand, a Dutch art detective known for recovering stolen works, said such high-profile thefts often involve professional gangs that attempt to sell the items to private collectors or use them as leverage in criminal negotiations.
Police cordoned off several streets around the Louvre as forensic teams examined the scene. Authorities believe the suspects may have switched vehicles shortly after fleeing the area. Helicopters and surveillance drones have been deployed across Paris and neighbouring regions as part of the ongoing manhunt.
The Louvre, the world’s most visited museum, houses more than 35,000 artworks, including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People.
Museum officials said they are working with the Ministry of Culture to strengthen security around high-value exhibits as the investigation continues.
