Overview

• Masked thieves posed as workers, used a platform on the Seine-facing façade under renovation, cut protective glass with a disk cutter, and targeted the Galerie d’Apollon.
• Officials confirm the loss involves imperial jewels of inestimable cultural value, with media widely reporting nine pieces taken though the final tally has not been formally released.
• One stolen item was found nearby in damaged condition, widely reported as Empress Eugénie’s crown, as police trace the escape route.
• The Paris prosecutor opened an organized-robbery inquiry led by the BRB with OCBC support, and investigators are reviewing surveillance; a scooter used in the escape was recovered.
• The museum was evacuated without injuries and closed temporarily to preserve evidence, as authorities highlight security vulnerabilities linked to renovation works and express confidence in recovering items.