HEIST STRAIGHT OUT OF A MOVIE: Priceless diamonds stolen from the Louvre, thieves used a crane and saw, museum immediately closed!

A robbery occurred this morning at the Louvre Museum in Paris, announced French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati on her account on the social network X.

“Due to the robbery, a decision has been made to close the cultural institution Louvre Museum to visitors for emergency reasons,” the museum stated in an announcement published on the same social network, as reported by the daily Le Figaro.

Break-in through a window and escape on motorcycles

According to media reports and information from the Ministry of the Interior, the robbers — three or four of them — entered the Apollo Gallery, where some of France’s most valuable historical jewels are kept, including part of the former royal crown jewels.

They entered through a broken window on the side of the museum facing the River Seine, using a freight lift intended for construction work. The thieves were masked, equipped with power saws, and are believed to have known exactly where they were going.

They smashed display cases and took nine pieces of jewelry, including a tiara, brooch, necklace, and other ornaments that belonged to Empress Eugénie, as well as pieces from Napoleon’s collection. Afterward, they escaped on motorcycles and were last seen heading toward the A6 motorway.

No injuries, but damage is enormous

Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident, even though the first visitors had already begun entering the museum. Due to the investigation, the entire area was evacuated without incident, and the Louvre was closed to visitors for emergency reasons.

According to the French Le Parisien, one of the stolen pieces of jewelry — likely part of the empress’s crown — was found broken in front of the museum, suggesting it may have fallen during the thieves’ escape.

Tightened security and closed gates

After the incident, traffic around the Louvre was blocked, and the gates on the Seine side were closed. Tourists were left confused and disappointed — many had no idea what was happening until they were told the museum would not open that day.

“I just arrived at the Louvre and see that the security has locked everything inside! Everyone at the entrance was told that the museum will not open today,” wrote one visitor on X.

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A robbery with a professional signature

French Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez stated that everything indicates a carefully planned and coordinated operation.

“It is clear there was a team that scouted the area. The windows were cut using special tools, and the thieves had precise information on where to go,” said Nuñez.

The prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation for organized theft and conspiracy to commit a criminal offense, and a specialized unit for combating illegal trade in cultural property has been involved.

Total damage still unknown

The exact damage has not yet been determined. Louvre officials confirmed that The Regent, the most valuable diamond in the collection weighing over 140 carats, was not stolen, but each of the nine missing pieces of jewelry holds immense historical and cultural significance.

“These items represent not only commercial value but also an invaluable part of French and European heritage,” stated the Ministry of Culture.

Louvre remains closed — investigation ongoing

The museum will remain closed to the public throughout the day, and security procedures are expected to be further tightened. The Louvre remains one of the most visited museums in the world — in 2024, it welcomed nearly nine million visitors, 80% of whom were foreign tourists.

Although such incidents are extremely rare in highly protected institutions, this heist demonstrates that even the world’s most renowned cultural treasures are not immune to sophisticated criminal schemes.