Louvre remains closed a day after daring theft of Napoleonic jewels
[October 21, 2025]
By SYLVIE CORBET
PARIS (AP) — The Louvre remained closed Monday, a day after historic
jewels were stolen from the world’s most-visited museum in a daring
daylight heist that prompted authorities to reassess security measures
at cultural sites across France.
The museum’s staff asked dozens of visitors who were queuing in front of
the glass pyramid entrance to leave. In a message posted on social
media, the Louvre said visitors who have booked tickets will be
refunded. It did not provide additional details. The Louvre will also be
closed on Tuesday, its weekly closing day.
On Sunday, thieves rode a basket lift up the Louvre's facade, forced a
window, smashed display cases and fled with priceless Napoleonic jewels,
officials said. The theft occurred about 30 minutes after the museum
opened, with visitors already inside, and was among the highest-profile
museum thefts in living memory.
It unfolded just 250 meters (270 yards) from the Mona Lisa, in what
Culture Minister Rachida Dati described as a professional operation that
lasted just a few minutes.
French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin acknowledged security failures
on Monday.
“One can wonder about the fact that, for example, the windows hadn’t
been secured, about the fact that a basket lift was on a public road,”
he said on France Inter radio. “Having (previously) been interior
minister, I know that we cannot completely secure all places, but what
is certain is that we have failed.”
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez ordered prefects across France to
immediately reassess security measures protecting museums and other
cultural sites and enhance them if needed.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati said investigators are working on evidence
found at the scene.
“We did find motorcycles and they have a license plate,” Dati said on
news broadcaster CNews. “I also want to pay tribute to the security
officers who prevented the basket lift from being set on fire. One of
the criminals tried to set it on fire, but they forced him to flee. This
allowed us to recover evidence at the scene.”
Officials said the heist lasted less than eight minutes in total,
including less than four minutes inside the Louvre. “They went straight
to the display windows, they knew exactly what they wanted. They were
very efficient.” Dati said.
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A board reads that the opening of the Louvre museum is delayed, but
it remains closed for the day after Sunday's jewels robbery, Monday,
Oct. 20, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
Dati stressed that a decade-long “Louvre New Renaissance” plan that
was launched earlier this year includes security improvements.
“When the Louvre Museum was designed, it was not meant to
accommodate 10 million visitors,” she said.
The 700-million-euro ($760-million) plan is intended to modernize
infrastructure, ease crowding and give the Mona Lisa a dedicated
gallery by 2031.
Sunday's theft focused on the gilded Apollo Gallery, where the Crown
Diamonds are displayed. Alarms brought Louvre agents to the room,
forcing the intruders to bolt, but the robbery was already over.
A worker in the Louvre filmed a person in the Apollo Gallery on
Sunday morning wearing a yellow jacket and standing by a glass
encasing, according to video viewed and verified by BFM television.
It is unclear whether the person is one of the suspects.
Eight objects were taken, according to officials: a sapphire diadem,
necklace and single earring from a matching set linked to
19th-century French queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense; an emerald
necklace and earrings from the matching set of Empress Marie-Louise,
Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife; a reliquary brooch; and Empress
Eugénie’s diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch, a prized
19th-century imperial ensemble.
One object, the emerald-set imperial crown of Napoleon III’s wife,
Empress Eugénie, containing more than 1,300 diamonds, was later
found outside the museum, French authorities said.
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