Brazen heist at Louvre: Crown jewels stolen in daring daylight robbery
By bellecarter // 2025-10-20
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  • Thieves stole priceless royal artifacts from the Louvre's Galerie d'Apollon, targeting treasures linked to Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie. Eight of nine targeted items were taken, with Eugénie's damaged crown recovered during their escape.
  • Four masked intruders used a truck-mounted crane to breach an upper-floor window, threatened guards with angle grinders and completed the heist in just six to seven minutes before fleeing on motorbikes. Notably, they ignored the $60M Regent Diamond.
  • French politicians, including Marine Le Pen, condemned the robbery as a national humiliation. The Louvre had previously requested security upgrades, highlighting vulnerabilities to organized crime's "professional" tactics.
  • Authorities suspect ties to organized crime or a commissioned collector. A discarded yellow vest was recovered and a specialized police unit is pursuing multiple leads. President Macron vowed to recover the artifacts.
  • The heist echoes the Louvre's infamous 1911 Mona Lisa theft, exposing ongoing risks to cultural institutions despite their prestige. The museum closed for the day, disrupting thousands of visitors.
In a meticulously planned operation that has stunned French authorities, thieves broke into the Louvre Museum on Sunday morning, Oct. 19, stealing priceless crown jewels in a heist that lasted mere minutes. The robbery, described by officials as "very professional," targeted the museum's Galerie d'Apollon, home to France's historic royal treasures, including artifacts once belonging to Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie. The theft has sparked outrage among politicians, raised urgent questions about museum security and left investigators scrambling to recover the stolen artifacts. At approximately 9:30 a.m. local time, four masked intruders used a truck-mounted crane to access an upper-floor window of the Louvre, bypassing security measures. Once inside, they threatened guards with angle grinders before making off with eight of the nine targeted objects. The ninth—Empress Eugénie's crown—was dropped during their escape and later recovered, damaged near the museum. Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that the thieves operated with precision, completing the robbery in just six to seven minutes before fleeing on motorbikes. Notably, they ignored the Regent Diamond, one of the Louvre's most valuable gems, estimated at over $60 million. "It'll only be when they're in custody that we'll know why they didn't target that," Beccuau told BFM TV. The theft has drawn sharp criticism from French politicians, particularly from the right-wing National Rally party. Jordan Bardella, the party's president, called the robbery an "intolerable humiliation" for France, while Marine Le Pen described it as a wound to the nation's "soul." The incident has also reignited debates over museum security. Earlier this year, Louvre officials requested government assistance to modernize aging infrastructure and bolster protections against increasingly sophisticated criminal tactics. Culture Minister Rachida Dati acknowledged that museums must now contend with "organized crime professionals," rather than opportunistic thieves.

Investigation underway

A specialized police unit has taken over the case, with authorities exploring multiple leads, including possible ties to organized crime or a commissioned theft by a private collector. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez emphasized the "immeasurable heritage value" of the stolen items, while investigators recovered a yellow reflective vest discarded by one of the thieves. The Louvre remained closed for the rest of Sunday, disrupting visits for thousands of tourists. Among them were Joan and Jim Carpenter from California, who were abruptly evacuated while waiting to see the Mona Lisa. "When you rob the Louvre, that's a big deal to all of France," Joan remarked. This is not the first time thieves have targeted the Louvre. "In 1911, the Mona Lisa itself was stolen by a former employee in a heist that captivated global headlines before its recovery two years later," BrightU.AI's Enoch noted. The latest robbery underscores the ongoing vulnerabilities of even the most prestigious cultural institutions. As French authorities intensify their search for the perpetrators, President Emmanuel Macron vowed that the stolen treasures would be recovered. "We will recover the works, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice," he declared. For now, the fate of France's crown jewels—and the question of how such a brazen theft could occur—remains unresolved. Watch the video below that talks about "the biggest heist." This video is from BruceAnderson's channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com Reuters.com BBC.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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