Thieves broke into the Louvre museum in Paris on Sunday morning — stealing nine historical jewels of “inestimable value” before fleeing on motorcycles. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told local media that they had entered using a basket lift and pulled off the shocking heist within “seven minutes”. Officials have since confirmed that one of the stolen pieces (from the Napoleon and Empress collection) was later found outside the museum.

“The investigation has begun, and a detailed list of the stolen items is being compiled. Beyond their market value, these items have inestimable heritage and historical value,” the ministry said in a statement.

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati also confirmed that a piece of jewellery was “found during the escape” of the criminals on Sunday morning. She gave TF1 an even shorter timeline for the heist — claiming that the “priceless loot” was carried out in “four minutes” by “professionals”. Meanwhile the Paris prosecutor’s office said it had opened an organised theft and criminal conspiracy probe.

What was stolen?

Nine pieces of jewellery were stolenfrom the Napoleon and Empress collection during the robbery on Sunday morning. Local media reported that one stolen jewel was later found outside the Louvre premises. Le Parisien cited early investigative findings to suggest that the thieves had broken the crown of Empress Eugénie and made off with several jewels.

The robbery is likely to raise awkward questions about security at the museum, where officials had already sounded the alarm about lack of investment at a world-famous site that welcomed 8.7 million visitors in 2024.

How did they pull off the heist?

French daily Le Parisien reported that the criminals entered the world’s most visited museum and former palace via the Seine-facing facade, where construction is underway. The report said they used a freight elevator to gain direct access to the targeted room in the Apollo Gallery. After breaking windows, they reportedly stole “nine pieces from the jewellery collection of Napoleon and the Empress,” Le Parisien said.

The thieves struck at about 9.30 am when the museum had already opened its doors to the public, and entered the Galerie d’Apollon building, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The robbery took around four minutes, Culture Minister Rachida Dati told TF1, and it was carried out by professionals.

“We saw some footage: they don’t target people, they enter calmly in four minutes, smash display cases, take their loot, and leave. No violence, very professional,” she said on TF1.

She said one piece of jewellery had been recovered outside the museum, apparently dropped as they made their escape.

Dati declined to say what the item was, but newspaper Le Parisien said it was believed to be the crown of Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugénie. The jewel was broken, the newspaper said. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told France Inter that three or four thieves got into the museum from outside using a crane that was positioned on a truck.”They broke a window, headed to several display cases and stole jewels … which have a real historical, priceless value,” Nunez said.