Overview
- A daylight raid on October 19 stripped the Louvre of multiple Napoleonic‑era crown jewels valued at about $102 million, with Empress Eugénie's tiara recovered at the scene but damaged.
- Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said investigators collected more than 150 DNA, fingerprint and other traces and used CCTV to map the suspects’ route through Paris and nearby departments, with no arrests announced.
- Louvre director Laurence des Cars told senators the east balcony used by the thieves had no camera coverage and linked the vulnerability to chronic underinvestment in perimeter security.
- RTL reported that the museum’s most valuable jewels were moved under heavy security to Banque de France vaults; the Louvre and the bank have not confirmed the transfer.
- German maker Böcker confirmed the lift used was its Agilo model sold to a French rental client and later stolen, and its tongue‑in‑cheek social posts about the device drew viral attention.