On the morning of October 19, around 9:30 am, shortly after the museum opened, 4 masked thieves disguised as construction workers stole eight pieces of 19th-century royal jewelry valued at over $102 million from the Paris Louvre.
The heist took place mainly in the Apollo gallery of the museum. The thieves also used a moving truck that was stolen prior to access the first floor, they used a ladder to climb up to the window, and then quietly broke into the gallery.
The entire heist took an astonishing 7 minutes to complete, leaving some viewers impressed.
Items stolen: -A sapphire tiara, necklace, and earrings from the set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense.
-An emerald necklace and matching earrings from the set of Empress Marie-Louise.
-A diadem, a large bodice bow (brooch), and a “reliquary” brooch, all from the collection of Empress Eugénie.
Although nine items were initially stolen, a crown belonging to Empress Eugénie was dropped by the thieves during their escape and has since been recovered. The Louvre remained closed for a day to allow for an investigation and the collection of evidence.
As of early November 2025, four people have been arrested in connection with the robbery, though only two individuals have been charged, while three others arrested have since been released.
The stolen jewelry has still not yet been recovered.
