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The museum announced its closure following the theft.
The theft took place at France’s famous Louvre Museum at 9 am on Sunday. French Culture Minister Rashida Dati said that the thieves ran away with the jewellery. He wrote on X, ‘This morning the theft took place in the Louvre Museum as soon as it opened.’
According to media reports, professional thieves entered the museum by climbing the wall, cut the window with a disc cutter and stole 9 priceless jewels of Napoleon and Empress Josephine in just 7 minutes.
The stolen jewels also included the historic Eugenie Crown, made in 1855, which is studded with thousands of precious gems. Some parts of this crown were found broken. It is believed that it might have been broken during the theft.
The museum announced its closure for the entire day today following the theft. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the incident as one of the biggest robberies. “An investigation has begun and a list of stolen items is being prepared,” the ministry said in a statement.
Thieves stole 9 historical jewels of Napoleon and Josephine
French Home Minister said – Thieves stole in modern way
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that the thieves carried out the crime in a modern way. The thieves brought a ladder mounted on a truck, which they placed against the wall of the museum overlooking the Seine River.
After this, they cut the window with a disc cutter and entered inside. According to police, the thieves used a freight elevator that led directly to the gallery that housed Napoleon and Josephine’s priceless collection.
This lift was brought for the ongoing construction work in the museum. Police believe that three thieves were involved in this theft. Two thieves entered the gallery and committed theft, while the third kept watch outside.
The thieves broke the glass and locks of the gallery using tools like chainsaws (cutters). After the theft they fled on a T-Max scooter towards the A6 motorway. The thieves left the truck and ladder at the spot, which were later found by the police as evidence.
The thieves left the truck and ladder at the spot, which were confiscated by the police.
Crown studded with thousands of emeralds stolen
Thieves stole nine jewels from the collection of Napoleon and Empress Josephine, including a necklace, brooch and tiara. The most precious was the Eugénie Crown, created in 1855 for Empress Eugénie de Montijo, Napoleon’s wife.
This crown is famous for its magnificent design and thousands of emeralds. This collection of Napoleon and Josephine is an important part of French history, with some pieces looted from royals during the French Revolution, while others confiscated from the Napoleonic Empire
The exact value of the stolen jewelery has not yet been assessed.
The Eugénie Crown was created in 1855 for Napoleon’s wife. Thousands of precious gems are studded in it.
Thieves stole a necklace, brooch and tiara belonging to Queen Josephine.
Thieves suspected to be foreigners
The police’s Banditism Repression Brigade (BRB) and the Anti-Cultural Property Trafficking Office are investigating the case. Home Minister Nunez said that CCTV footage is being examined.
Police suspect that the thieves may be foreigners. Sources believe that this theft may have been carried out by a rich collector, so that the stolen jewelery could be hidden privately instead of being sold in the black market.
Tourists who came to visit the museum returned
As soon as the news of the theft spread, there was chaos in the Louvre. Thousands of tourists who had come to visit the museum early in the morning had to return.
A British tourist said, ‘We arrived around 10 in the morning. Thousands of people were in the queue. Suddenly the staff told that the museum is closed due to theft. After some time, police and army vehicles arrived. People were trying to take selfies, but the police took everyone out.
3,80,000 valuable items present in the museum
The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world and houses many famous art works and other valuable objects. Its major attractions include Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo.
It also displays antiquities, sculpture and paintings by Mesopotamian, Egyptian and European artists.
There are about 3,80,000 objects in this museum, out of which 35,000 are kept on display. Its value is in billions of pounds, due to which its security is one of the most stringent security arrangements in the world. Up to 30,000 people visit the museum every day.
Paintings by Mesopotamian, Egyptian and European artists are kept in the museum.
An employee had stolen Monalisa’s painting in 1911
The Louvre Museum has a long history of theft and robbery. The most famous incident occurred in 1911, when the Mona Lisa painting went missing from its frame, which was stolen by an employee.
He hid in a cupboard inside the museum overnight and came out after hiding the painting under his coat. The painting was recovered two years later in Florence.
Recently in November 2024, thieves armed with an ax had stolen seven precious boxes.
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