Some of your favorite heist movies have come to life. This past Sunday, October 19, at 9:30 a.m., priceless jewels were stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris. In under 10 minutes, eight items were stolen from the museum.
According to the BBC, the stolen pieces included a tiara belonging to the wife of Napoleon III and an emerald necklace and earrings belonging to Empress Marie Louise. Also taken were a tiara, a necklace and a single earring from a sapphire set owned by Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense.
To carry out the theft, the robbers, who were disguised in construction gear, used a truck mounted with a basket to hoist themselves to the second-floor window. When they reached the window, they used glass cutters to break in. According to another BBC report, the three rooms that were robbed had no CCTV cameras, making it easy for the thieves to enter unnoticed. The four suspects then made their getaway on two motorized scooters.
The robbers entered calmly, so nobody was injured. However, they attempted to set their basket lift on fire, but security officers were able to stop them. The way the robbery occurred is still not entirely understood by the public, besides what witnesses have told the press.
Police told the BBC that it might be too late to recover the jewels before they are melted down and sold. The government considers it a personal attack. Natalie Goulet, a member of the Paris Senate’s finance committee, was interviewed by the BBC.
“We are all disappointed and angry. It is difficult to understand how it happened so easily,” said Goulet.
Investigators said efforts are ongoing to recover the jewels and find the culprits before it’s too late.
In recent updates, four suspects have been detained, but the jewels have not yet been recovered. According to NBC News, the suspects are most likely from the local low-income area north of Paris.
Although the suspects’ names have not been released, their ages have. According to NBC, a 34-year-old man and a 39-year-old man have partially admitted their involvement. In addition, a 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were charged on Saturday, although they deny involvement.
New updates are still being released to the press. NBC reports that at least one more person was involved in the burglary. The stolen items are expected to be recovered soon. Although the Louvre robbery may not have been as flashy as Ocean’s 11, it will still go down in history as the most followed heist of 2025.
