Overview

• Police are hunting four masked suspects who used a truck lift and power tools to enter the Galerie d’Apollon in a raid lasting about seven minutes before fleeing on high‑powered scooters.
• Eight Napoleonic and royal jewelry pieces were stolen, including diadems, necklaces, earrings and brooches, while the crown of Empress Eugénie was recovered nearby in damaged condition.
• Investigators have opened an organized gang theft case, seized tools, a warning vest and other items, and obtained the scooters’ license plates from city cameras.
• The Louvre remains closed to visitors with refunds issued as Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez orders checks on security at museums nationwide and Culture Minister Rachida Dati launches an administrative review.
• A recently surfaced Court of Audit assessment and earlier staff complaints citing thin camera coverage and fewer guards fuel scrutiny, as experts warn the jewels may be dismantled and sold off in parts, hindering recovery.