Four Thieves Use Ladder to Steal $102 Million Crown Jewels from Louvre in Daring Daytime Heist

Four masked thieves carried out a daring daytime theft of royal jewels from the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery.

“A recent theft at the Louvre involved the stealing of eight valuable pieces, including historic jewels linked to French royalty, such as an emerald-and-diamond necklace given by Napoleon I to Empress Marie-Louise and a diamond diadem of Empress Eugénie”

DW

Multiple outlets agree the operation was rapid and involved entry via a balcony, but they differ on timing and some details.

DW

The Guardian reports the robbers used a truck with an extendable ladder and a furniture hoist to reach a balcony, break a window, and quickly escape during opening hours.

The Guardian values the haul at €88 million.

BBC also places the value at €88 million ($102 million) and says the thieves used power tools via a balcony and fled on scooters within eight minutes.

Straight Arrow News emphasizes the speed of the operation, describing it as under eight minutes, involving scaling the facade and cutting through a window.

The Journal adds that the theft happened near the Mona Lisa and estimates the value at over €100 million.

DW confirms that eight historic pieces linked to French royalty were taken from the Apollo Gallery, highlighting the scope and prestige of the heist.

Accounts differ on how security systems performed but agree on serious weaknesses.

The Guardian reports that alarms worked and protocols were followed, yet thieves exploited outdated perimeter cameras and display cases resistant to bullets but vulnerable to cutting tools.

BBC

The BBC, however, states that the museum’s alarm system failed and highlights missing CCTV coverage in a third of the rooms.

The Journal emphasizes the lack of complete video surveillance around the perimeter and mentions recent staff strikes along with proposals for barriers and even a police station inside the museum.

Straight Arrow News and DW expand the criticism by pointing to partial camera coverage, reductions in security personnel despite increased visitor numbers, and ongoing understaffing linked to recent strikes.

Leadership responses have been swift and publicly accountable.

“The Louvre opened its doors again Wednesday morning after thieves stole $102 million in imperial jewels over the weekend”

Straight Arrow News

Louvre director Laurence des Cars admitted a “terrible failure,” testified before senators, and, according to The Journal and DW, offered her resignation, which the culture minister refused.

BBC notes she will testify before the French Senate as President Emmanuel Macron pushes accelerated security upgrades.

Straight Arrow News quotes the culture minister calling the theft a “wound for the nation.”

Azat TV highlights a split within government messaging—Culture Minister Rachida Dati defending the museum’s security as Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called the incident a failure.

The Guardian frames the episode as a national embarrassment, underscoring the political pressure to explain how such a brazen heist was possible.

The haul encompassed historic jewels tied to French royalty, and some items were recovered damaged.

BBC lists pieces including a diamond and emerald necklace given by Napoleon to his wife, a tiara worn by Empress Eugenie, and pieces once owned by Queen Marie-Amelie.

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DW specifies an emerald-and-diamond necklace given by Napoleon I to Empress Marie-Louise and a diamond diadem of Empress Eugénie.

Straight Arrow News adds a sapphire diadem and an emerald necklace belonging to Empress Eugénie.

A crown was dropped and found damaged during the escape, according to BBC and The Guardian.

Azat TV says thieves damaged a 19th-century diamond crown when prying it from its case, though it was later recovered.

Investigative outlooks vary: DW fears gems may have been melted down and doubts recovery despite confidence in catching the thieves.

Straight Arrow News warns the jewels may never be recovered.

The Louvre reopened three days after the heist, with crowds returning even as the Apollo Gallery remains closed and the thieves at large.

“A recent break-in at the House of Enlightenment, Denis Diderot, resulted in the theft of nearly 2,000 gold and silver coins”

South China Morning Post

BBC and Straight Arrow News both note the three-day closure and continued shutdown of the Apollo Gallery, while The Journal describes long visitor lines and says the jewels remain missing.

South China Morning Post

DW emphasizes that most of the museum is open and uses the case to spotlight other recent cultural site robberies in France, a trend echoed by an Asian outlet reporting a separate theft of nearly 2,000 coins at the House of Enlightenment, Denis Diderot.

Policy proposals and public mood vary: The Journal mentions barriers and a police station proposal alongside mixed public reactions, while Straight Arrow News portrays the crowds’ return as resilience.