Authorities in France are investigating a robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris after chainsaw-wielding thieves broke in and stole priceless jewelry before fleeing on motorbikes.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez on Sunday described the theft as a "major robbery" that "lasted seven minutes." According to France Inter, Nunez said the suspects "entered from the outside using a basket lift" and "a disc cutter" to cut through the glass panes protecting the jewelry.
The break-in occurred in a section of the museum under construction along the Seine River. The thieves reportedly accessed a freight elevator to reach a room in the Apollo Gallery, where jewels from the collection of Napoleon and the Empress are displayed. Nine pieces were stolen, including a crown believed to have belonged to Empress Eugénie. The crown was later found broken outside the museum.
“Clearly, a team had been scouting the location. It was obviously a very experienced team that acted very, very quickly,” Nunez said. “I am confident that we will very quickly find the perpetrators and, above all, recover the stolen goods.”
The Interior Ministry said a detailed inventory of the stolen pieces is being compiled. “Beyond their market value, these items have inestimable heritage and historical value,” the ministry stated.
The Louvre announced on social media that it would remain closed for “exceptional reasons,” without offering further details.
The museum houses more than 33,000 works, including antiquities, sculptures, and paintings. It is best known for masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Last year, the Louvre welcomed more than 8.7 million visitors.
