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£76M Louvre Heist: Thieves Grab Jewels in Minutes
18 Jan
Summary
- Two thieves stole £76 million of jewelry from the Louvre's Apollo Gallery.
- CCTV captured the daring daylight heist, which lasted only four minutes.
- Despite multiple arrests, the stolen jewels remain missing three months later.
On October 19, 2025, two thieves executed a brazen daylight heist at the Louvre Museum, making off with approximately £76 million in jewelry from the famed Apollo Gallery. The entire operation, meticulously captured on CCTV, lasted a mere four minutes. Security footage revealed the thieves smashing display cases to seize valuable ornaments, including pieces from the sets of Queen Marie-Amélie and Empress Eugénie.
Within a week of the incident, two men were arrested in connection with the raid, with one apprehended at Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to flee. Both had previous encounters with law enforcement. Trace DNA evidence from a helmet left at the scene linked one suspect to the crime. Subsequently, additional suspects were detained, leading to charges of organized gang theft and criminal conspiracy against five individuals.
Despite extensive investigations and multiple arrests, the location of the stolen jewels remains unknown as of November 25, 2025. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau emphasized that recovering the jewelry is the primary objective. While some security measures at the Louvre have since been enhanced, the case highlights ongoing challenges in securing priceless artifacts against determined criminals.
