In one of France’s most audacious robberies, masked thieves stole priceless Napoleonic jewels from the Louvre Museum in a daylight raid lasting fewer than five minutes.

On Sunday morning, 19 October, four suspects used a vehicle-mounted lift to reach a window of the Galerie d’Apollon, home to France’s crown jewels in Paris. They cut through glass panes, smashed display cases, and then escaped on motorbikes before police arrived.

The operation, described by Culture Minister Rachida Dati as a “very professional” and “calm” theft, was over in just four minutes.

Eight 19th-century pieces were taken, including a sapphire tiara, necklaces, pairs of earrings, and brooches once belonging to Empress Marie-Louise, Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense. Empress Eugenie’s diamond-studded crown was recovered nearby, damaged after being dropped during the escape.

The heist has reignited debate over security at the world’s most visited museum. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez admitted the robbers were “experienced” and said protection would be reinforced.

President Emmanuel Macron vowed France will “recover the works, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice.”

The theft, executed just 250 metres from the Mona Lisa, has left the nation both stunned and questioning how such a lapse could happen in broad daylight.

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