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Louvre Reopens After Daring Heist as Probe Widens Into €88 Million Jewel Theft

Experts warn the stolen crown jewels may already be dismantled, complicating recovery.

Overview

  • Paris prosecutors put the loss at €88 million based on a Louvre conservator’s estimate, stressing the cultural damage far exceeds the monetary valuation.
  • The museum has reopened to visitors, but the Galerie d’Apollon remains closed indefinitely while damage is assessed and security is reinforced.
  • Investigators have identified four people present during the seven‑minute raid and mobilized roughly 100 officers, with possible internal complicity not ruled out.
  • Police recovered the crown of Empress Eugénie nearby in damaged condition, while the rest of the jewels remain unaccounted for.
  • The theft has triggered an administrative inquiry and parliamentary scrutiny of museum security, as the Culture Minister defends the Louvre’s systems and prior audits flagged obsolescence.