A robbery carried out by a group of highly organized criminals at the famous Louvre Museum in Paris caused panic among tourists and led to the closure of the museum. The audacious thieves managed to steal valuable jewelry pieces that once belonged to Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte within a span of just seven minutes. French authorities confirmed the incident occurred during the museum’s opening hours. It is believed that two men entered the museum and stole nine precious items while a third individual acted as a lookout.
The stolen items reportedly included a tiara, brooch, necklace, and more. The hooded men gained access to the renowned Louvre building through a construction site, with images showing the ladder they used to enter a room within the Apollo Gallery.
The perpetrators cut through windows to enter the building, with one individual stationed outside to monitor the area. The swift robbery, lasting only seven minutes, was disclosed by French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. He revealed that the thieves utilized a ladder to access the museum and then cut a window using a hand-held disc cutter.
Witnesses reported that individuals on scooters, heavily disguised and armed with chainsaws, were seen arriving at the scene. They made off with nine pieces from the Napoleon collection. The suspects, described as highly organized criminals, are believed to have been involved in the heist.
One of the stolen jewels, possibly the priceless crown of Empress Eugenie, was found damaged outside the museum. Due to the exceptional circumstances, the Louvre Museum, known as the most visited museum globally, remained closed for the entire day. French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati assured that no injuries occurred during the incident and that a police investigation was initiated.
Regarding the closure of the museum, Nuñez explained that it was necessary to preserve evidence for investigators. He emphasized the vulnerability of French museums and expressed hope in swiftly identifying the perpetrators. Visitors recounted scenes of panic inside the Louvre following the robbery, with police and gendarmerie responding to the situation.
Napoleon and Josephine, crowned Emperor and Empress of France in 1804, amassed a luxurious jewelry collection, many pieces of which were taken from Royalty during the French Revolution or acquired from various parts of the Empire.