A day after a dramatic daylight heist shocked France, the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris, home to countless treasures of art and history, announced that it would remain closed on Monday. Initially, the museum’s official website had informed visitors that the Louvre would open later than usual and that several of its rooms would be inaccessible. However, the unprecedented robbery forced a complete shutdown of operations as investigations intensified and authorities tightened security measures throughout the premises.
The heist took place on Sunday morning in broad daylight, when a group of thieves armed with advanced power tools executed a meticulously planned robbery. In a span of just seven minutes, they managed to steal one of France’s most prized royal artifacts—an item belonging to the collection of the French Crown Jewels. During the chaos, the robbers even dropped a gem-encrusted crown while escaping, suggesting both the speed and audacity of their operation. The entire act, carried out with precision and confidence, has left the French public and authorities stunned.
The incident quickly became a matter of national concern. French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin expressed deep disappointment and concern over the breach, stating that such a daring theft paints a damaging picture of France’s security systems. “There are many museums in Paris, many museums in France, with priceless values in these museums,” Darmanin said during an interview with France Inter radio. Acknowledging the failure of the system, he admitted, “What is certain is that we failed,” but also assured the public that every effort was underway to track down the perpetrators and recover the stolen items.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, speaking on the same radio station, described the crime as a “major robbery” and confirmed that the stolen artifacts were of “inestimable value.” He revealed that the thieves used a basket lift to access the museum’s high windows and employed a disc cutter to break through the glass panes. Once inside, they made their way directly to the Apollo Gallery—a section of the museum known for housing the French Crown Jewels, including regalia that once belonged to the kings and emperors of France.
According to the Interior Ministry’s statement, the robbery took place at around 9:30 a.m. local time, when the Louvre had already opened to visitors. This detail added to the shock, as it highlighted the robbers’ confidence in carrying out the theft under public scrutiny. After seizing the jewels, the culprits escaped swiftly on motorcycles, disappearing before law enforcement could respond. The precision, speed, and boldness of the operation have led officials to believe that the robbers were highly trained and possibly part of an organized crime network.
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati, commenting on the incident, described the thieves as “professionals,” emphasizing the extraordinary efficiency with which the robbery was conducted. She also noted that the event represented not only a security failure but also a cultural tragedy, as the stolen artifacts hold immense historical and symbolic significance for France.
The Louvre’s closure on Monday underscores the seriousness of the investigation and the need for an immediate review of the museum’s security infrastructure. With millions of visitors every year and countless priceless works of art on display, the Louvre has long been considered one of the most secure museums in the world. This high-profile breach has now prompted a national reckoning over the adequacy of existing safety protocols and has placed pressure on French authorities to ensure such an incident never happens again.
