Overview
- French radio RTL reported that select treasures from the Apollo Gallery were transferred Friday under secret police escort to the nearby Bank of France vault, though the Louvre and the bank have not confirmed the move.
- Four masked thieves used a truck‑mounted cherry‑picker to reach a second‑floor window, smashed cases, and fled on motorbikes within minutes, taking eight Napoleonic‑era pieces valued at about €88 million ($102 million).
- Roughly 100 specialists are working the case, with investigators reviewing CCTV and highway footage and processing about 150 DNA, fingerprint and other trace samples recovered from tools and gear left behind.
- One imperial crown piece was recovered damaged, and Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau described only a small hope that the stolen jewels will be found in original condition.
- Louvre leadership has acknowledged security failures, including inadequate exterior camera coverage near the entry point, as the Apollo Gallery remains sealed and broader security reviews proceed.