Thieves rob priceless jewels from Paris' Louvre in brazen heist

Thieves in balaclavas broke into Paris' Louvre museum on Sunday, using a crane to smash an upstairs window, then stealing priceless objects from an area that houses the French crown jewels before escaping on motorbikes, officials said.

The robbery raises awkward questions about security at the museum, where officials had already sounded the alarm about lack of investment at a world-famous site, home to artworks such as the Mona Lisa, that welcomed 8.7 million visitors in 2024.

"The theft committed at the Louvre is an attack on a heritage that we cherish because it is our History," President Emmanuel Macron said on X. "We will recover the works, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice."

The thieves struck at about 9.30 a.m. (0730 GMT) when the museum had already opened its doors to the public, and entered the Galerie d'Apollon building, Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said on BFM TV.

The robbery took between six to seven minutes and was carried out by four people who were unarmed, but who threatened the guards with angle grinders, she said.

A total of nine objects were targeted by the criminals, and eight were actually stolen. The thieves lost the ninth one, the crown of Napoleon III's wife, Empress Eugenie, during their escape, Beccuau said.

"It's worth several tens of millions of euros - just this crown. And it's not, in my opinion, the most important item," Drouot auction house President Alexandre Giquello told Reuters.

Beccuau said it was a mystery why the thieves did not steal the Regent diamond, which is housed in the Galerie d'Apollon and is estimated to be worth more than $60 million by Sotheby's.

"I don't have an explanation," she said. "It'll only be when they're in custody and face investigators that we'll know what type of order they had and why they didn't target that window."

Beccuau said one of the thieves was wearing a yellow reflective vest, which investigators have since recovered. She added that the robbers tried and failed to set fire to the crane, mounted on the back of a small truck, as they fled.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the probe had been entrusted to a specialized police unit that has a high success rate in cracking high-profile robberies.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/thieves-steal-jewels-louvre-paris-media-reports-2025-10-19/

Comprehension

Where did the robbery take place, and what valuable items were stolen?
How did the thieves break into the Louvre museum?
What time did the robbery occur, and how long did it last?
How many people were involved in the theft, and were they armed?
What happened to the crown of Empress Eugénie during the robbery?
What is the estimated value of the Regent diamond that was not stolen?
What evidence did investigators recover after the robbery?
Which police unit is now in charge of investigating the case?

Discussion

What does this robbery suggest about security in even the most famous museums?
Why do you think the thieves chose to steal some items but not the Regent diamond?
How might this incident affect public confidence in museum safety?
Do you think museums should display extremely valuable items, or keep them in secure vaults?
How could technology help prevent future museum thefts?
What do you think motivates people to steal art or cultural treasures?
How would losing a piece of national heritage affect a country’s identity?
Should penalties for art theft be more severe than for other crimes? Why or why not?
What measures should governments take to better protect historic artifacts?
If you were a museum director, how would you balance accessibility for visitors and security for valuable items?

Vocabulary

Balaclava – a close-fitting cloth covering for the head and neck, leaving only parts of the face exposed.
Priceless – so valuable that its worth cannot be calculated.
Perpetrator – someone who commits a crime or wrongdoing.
Heritage – something handed down from past generations, such as culture, history, or property.
Custody – the state of being detained or under police control.
Reflective vest – a safety garment that reflects light, making the wearer visible.
Probe – a detailed investigation into a situation or event.
Heist – an organized robbery, especially of a place with valuable items.