In just under 10 minutes, a group of professional thieves stole priceless jewels from the Louvre Museum’s Apollo Gallery in broad daylight. The brazen robbery, carried out like a scene from a movie, has left France and the world stunned. Here’s a detailed timeline of the theft.
Louvre Heist: Minute-by-minute account
9:30 AM – A truck with an electric ladder, used for moving furniture through windows, arrived at the Louvre’s Quai François Mitterrand side. The thieves used it to reach a second-floor balcony where the loot happened.
9:34 AM- Two thieves disguised as construction workers climbed the ladder to the Apollo Gallery and sliced the window using a saw in the presence of the public. The alarm system was triggered immediately, though investigators later said some alarms may not have been fully heard in the gallery. Inside, the thieves smashed two high-security display cases and took out eight priceless pieces of the French Crown Jewels.
Among the jewels that were stolen are: A Sapphire and diamond tiara, necklace, and earrings from Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense. Empress Eugénie’s pearl tiara. Emerald necklace and earrings from Marie-Louise’s parure, A bow brooch from Empress Eugénie’s bodice and a diamond brooch.
9:38 AM- The thieves climbed back down the ladder and escaped the scene on two high-powered scooters. Two other accomplices were already waiting downstairs. While escaping, they dropped one stolen item, the crown of Empress Eugénie, adorned with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds. The jewellery was found in a damaged condition.
Five museum staff were present in or near the Apollo Gallery when the heist occurred. According to experts, thieves were clearly professionals who had planned the heist and likely surveyed the museum before figuring out the entry and exit point.
The robbery lasted less than 10 minutes.
Why the Louvre?
This isn’t the first time the Louvre has been targeted. In 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen by former employee Vincenzo Peruggia and recovered two years later. The infamous Apollo Gallery is home to France’s most historic and valuable jewels. It has priceless gems from Napoleon Bonaparte, Empress Eugénie, and other French royalty’s time. In 2019, the gallery was renovated and reopened in 2020. It has 23 jewels, including the world-famous Regent and Sancy diamonds and represents France’s cultural heritage.
Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said 60 investigators are currently questioning witnesses, reviewing surveillance footage from inside the museum and surrounding streets, and analysing forensic evidence.
