Louvre Director questioned after $102 Million jewel heist

The heist, which took place on Sunday in broad daylight and lasted only seven minutes, has left the museum closed for two days, frustrating thousands of visitors. The Louvre is expected to reopen Wednesday after its regular Tuesday closure.

$102 Million loss to heritage

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed Tuesday that the stolen pieces were estimated at 88 million euros ($102 million). She emphasized that the cultural loss far outweighed the monetary value, warning that melting the jewels would destroy priceless historical artifacts.

Investigators believe the theft was carried out by a coordinated crime group that used a moving truck with an extendable ladder to reach the museum’s Apollo Gallery. During their escape, the thieves reportedly dropped a diamond-studded crown.

Investigation and security concerns

Authorities have identified four suspects and are analyzing fingerprints and CCTV footage from both the museum and major highways out of Paris.

The robbery reignited debate over museum security in France after two other thefts occurred last month. A report by the Court of Auditors (2019–2024) had already highlighted “persistent delays” in the Louvre’s security upgrades—only a quarter of one wing is covered by surveillance cameras.

In January, Des Cars warned Culture Minister Rachida Dati about a “worrying level of obsolescence” in the museum’s infrastructure, calling for urgent renovation work.

Daring method and priceless jewels

On Sunday morning, the thieves parked a truck with a ladder beneath the Apollo Gallery. They climbed up, cut through a window, and opened display cases to seize eight royal pieces, including:

An emerald-and-diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon I to Empress Marie-Louise

A diamond diadem once belonging to Empress Eugénie, adorned with nearly 2,000 diamonds

The Louvre rejected claims that its display cases were inadequate, noting they were installed in 2019 and represented a “major improvement” in protection.

A string of museum robberies

The Louvre theft follows a series of high-profile museum break-ins:

In September, gold nuggets worth over $1.5 million were stolen from Paris’s Natural History Museum. A 24-year-old Chinese woman was later arrested in Barcelona with nearly one kilogram of melted gold.

In Limoges, thieves made off with antique porcelain pieces worth $7.6 million.

The Central Office for the Fight against Trafficking in Cultural Property warned that museums are becoming “increasingly targeted” due to the immense value of their collections.

Louvre staff raise alarm

Labor unions criticized cuts to security positions despite soaring attendance numbers at the world’s most visited museum—home to masterpieces like the Mona Lisa.

“We cannot do without physical surveillance,” a union official insisted, as staff called for stronger on-site protection to prevent future cultural catastrophes.