Seven‑Minute Louvre Crown Jewels Heist

In a seven-minute daytime raid at the Louvre, four thieves used a truck-mounted elevating platform to reach an upper balcony, cut through glass with an angle grinder and chainsaws, and stole eight pieces from France’s Crown Jewels valued at roughly $100–$130 million. Video and forensic work show the gang left a crown, a helmet, tools, gloves and a vehicle at the scene, yielding about 150 samples that investigators are analyzing along with fingerprints and other footage. The stolen items have been added to Interpol’s database and authorities are pursuing leads, including an organized-crime hypothesis and the likelihood the gems would be broken up for sale. Louvre director Laurence des Cars told senators the museum’s perimeter cameras were ageing and did not cover the Apollo Gallery balcony and that recent display cases were designed to resist bullets rather than angle grinders; she offered to resign but the culture ministry refused. The museum reopened to visitors with the Apollo Gallery sealed, nearby cultural events continued under heightened vigilance, and jewellers worldwide were put on alert as France faces criticism over chronic security shortfalls.