In a dramatic turn of events, the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris was forced to shut down on Sunday after thieves pulled off a daring early-morning robbery, according to French officials. The shocking incident left visitors stunned and authorities scrambling for answers.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told France Inter radio that the thieves broke into the museum around 9:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. ET), just as the museum was preparing to open for the day. Using a ladder mounted on the back of a truck, they climbed to an upper level and gained entry — a move described by investigators as precise and pre-planned.

Heist Executed with Alarming Precision

According to police reports cited by AFP News Agency, the robbers arrived on scooters equipped with small chainsaws, cut through barriers, and used a freight elevator to access the targeted room. They then fled with priceless jewellery, whose total value is still being assessed.

Officials described the stolen pieces as jewels of “inestimable value”, meaning their worth cannot even be measured in money. Nuñez revealed that the entire operation lasted only seven minutes, and investigators believe three or four professional criminals were involved.

“It was manifestly a team that had done scouting,” the minister said, stressing that the group appeared experienced and strategic. The thieves broke into the Galerie d’Apollon — a glittering exhibition hall known for its royal treasures — by smashing an exterior window with a disc cutter. Inside the gallery, the jewels had been kept behind protective glass, but the robbers managed to shatter it before fleeing on motor-scooters through the narrow Parisian lanes.

Scene of Chaos and Rapid Evacuation

An image from the scene showed a furniture elevator propped against a second-floor balcony, surrounded by police cordons and forensic teams. The Louvre’s official website notes that the Galerie d’Apollon houses hardstone vessels once owned by the kings of France, carved from jade, rock crystal, and other precious minerals, along with the French Crown Jewels and several historic diamonds.

Nuñez confirmed that the museum had to be evacuated “mainly to preserve evidence and clues so that investigators could work undisturbed.” He added confidently, “I expect we will very soon find the thieves and jewels.”

Videos posted on social media platform X and verified by NBC News showed crowds of confused visitors exiting the museum, as authorities sealed entrances and combed the area for forensic evidence.

Investigation and Official Reactions

The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened a full investigation into organized theft and criminal conspiracy, according to a source cited by NBC.

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed on X that “no injuries were reported.” In another post, she wrote, “A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum.” Dati stated that she was personally on-site, overseeing the investigation with law-enforcement officials.

Following the theft, the Louvre administration issued a statement announcing its closure for the day, citing “exceptional reasons.”

According to Le Parisien, the robbers entered through the Seine-facing façade of the former royal palace, an area currently under construction, and then used a freight elevator to access the Apollo Gallery. The report added that after breaking the windows, the thieves stole nine pieces from the jewellery collection of Napoleon and Empress Joséphine.

From Mona Lisa Theft to Nazi Loots: The Louvre’s History of Legendary Heists

The Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum, is not new to thefts and dramatic recoveries. Over the centuries, several priceless treasures have vanished within its storied halls.

The 1911 Theft of the Mona Lisa

On August 21, 1911, Italian handyman Vincenzo Peruggia disguised himself as a museum worker, hid overnight, and walked out the next morning carrying Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa under his coat. The disappearance went unnoticed until the next day, sparking worldwide outrage. The painting was finally recovered in 1913 when Peruggia tried to sell it in Florence, Italy.

Vandalism of the Mona Lisa

The Mona Lisa has faced repeated acts of vandalism.

• In 1956, it endured two assaults — one with a razor blade and another when a Bolivian man threw a rock at it.

• In 1974, while displayed in Tokyo, a woman sprayed red paint on its glass casing.

• In 2009, a Russian woman smashed a teacup against the glass after being denied French citizenship.

• In 2022, a man smeared cake on the bulletproof glass in a climate protest.

• And in 2024, environmental activists splashed soup on the protective casing to protest unsustainable agriculture. Thankfully, the painting itself remained unharmed each time.

Nazi Looting During World War II

During the German occupation of France, the Louvre’s priceless artworks were secretly moved and hidden under Jacques Jaujard’s leadership. Despite his heroic efforts, some works were seized by the Nazis. After the war, many were recovered, now marked with “MNR” (Musées Nationaux Récupération) tags to trace their restitution.

Other Notable Heists

• 1971 – Courbet’s The Wave: Stolen by professional thieves, never recovered.

• Chardin’s Still Life: An 18th-century masterpiece that mysteriously vanished from the museum.

• 1983 – Attempted Theft: A gang tried to steal Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People but was caught before escape.

• 1983 – Armour Theft: Two Renaissance pieces — an ornate Milanese helmet and breastplate, donated by the Rothschild family in 1922 — disappeared but were recovered in 2021 after a military expert identified them in Bordeaux.

The latest Louvre robbery adds another astonishing chapter to the museum’s turbulent history. From the theft of the Mona Lisa to the modern-day scooter-and-chainsaw heist, the world’s greatest repository of art continues to battle both time and thieves. Yet, as French authorities intensify their manhunt, one thing is certain — the pursuit of lost beauty at the Louvre never truly ends.