2025 Louvre robbery facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids The Galerie d'Apollon in 2024
Date	19 October 2025 (2025-10-19)
Time	c. 09:30
Venue	Louvre
Location	Paris, France
Type	Jewellery theft
Stolen value	€88 million

On October 19, 2025, a group of thieves carried out a daring robbery at the famous Louvre museum in Paris, France. They pretended to be construction workers and stole eight precious items from the French Crown Jewels. These treasures were displayed in the beautiful Galerie d'Apollon, also known as Apollo's Gallery. The stolen jewels are worth about 88 million Euros.

The entire theft happened very quickly, in less than eight minutes. The thieves spent only four minutes inside the museum itself. This happened even while the museum was open to visitors. This was the first art theft from the Louvre since 1998.

The Louvre Heist of 2025
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The Louvre Heist of 2025

A Look Back: Louvre's History and Security

The Galerie d'Apollon, built in the 16th century, is a special part of the Louvre. It used to display many of the remaining French Crown Jewels. These included the beautiful Crown of Louis XV and the sparkling Hortensia diamond.

Past Incidents at the Louvre

The Louvre has faced thefts before. In 1911, a former worker named Vincenzo Peruggia stole the famous Mona Lisa painting. Luckily, it was found two years later in Italy. In 1998, a painting called Le chemin de Sèvres was stolen and is still missing.

After the 1998 theft, the museum's director warned that security was "fragile." More recently, the current director, Laurence des Cars, asked the Paris police to check the museum's security. Some improvements were suggested, but they were still being put in place when the robbery happened.

Some museum staff groups had also expressed concerns about fewer security guards. This happened even as more and more visitors came to the museum. Other museums in France also experienced thefts recently. These included the Cognacq-Jay Museum and the Hiéron Museum in November 2024. The Adrien Dubouché Museum was targeted in September 2025. The National Museum of Natural History in Paris also had gold stolen in September 2025.

How the Robbery Unfolded

The robbery began around 9:30 AM, just 30 minutes after the Louvre opened its doors.

The Thieves' Clever Disguise

The thieves arrived at the museum from the side facing the Seine river. They brought tools and wore bright yellow and orange vests. This made them look like ordinary construction workers. Their faces were hidden with masks.

Entering the Museum

Two of the thieves used a special basket lift, called a "monte-meuble" in French. This type of lift is often used in Paris to move furniture through high windows. They used it to reach a first-floor balcony on the museum's south side.

Once on the balcony, they used a powerful tool to cut through a glass window. This set off the security alarms. Inside the Galerie d'Apollon, they threatened the guards with their tools. They quickly took nine valuable items from two glass display cases.

The Escape

The thieves then climbed down the lift's ladder. Two other members of their group were waiting below on motor scooters. As they left, they accidentally dropped the Crown of Empress Eugénie in the street. This meant they got away with eight items instead of nine.

They tried to burn the basket of the lift, but a museum worker stopped them. The thieves then sped away along the banks of the Seine river. They eventually reached a major road and headed south. The whole robbery, from start to finish, took less than eight minutes. They were inside the museum for only four minutes.

What Was Stolen?

The French Ministry of Culture identified the stolen items.

The French Crown Jewels

The thieves took:

A tiara, necklace, and an earring from the sapphire set of Queen Maria Amalia of Naples and Sicily and Queen Hortense de Beauharnais.
An emerald necklace and a pair of emerald earrings from Empress Marie Louise's collection.
A special brooch, a large bow-shaped brooch, and a tiara belonging to Empress Eugénie.

As the thieves escaped, they dropped the Crown of Empress Eugénie. It was found "badly damaged" because they tried to pull it through a space that was too small. Museum director De Cars said that it might be possible to repair it carefully.

It was also reported that another jeweled item was dropped, but its identity was not shared. Interestingly, the thieves did not take some of the most famous diamonds in the gallery. These included the Regent Diamond (worth 51 million Euros by itself), the Sancy, and the Hortensia diamond.

Officials estimated the value of the stolen items to be 88 million Euros. They also noted that the loss was much greater for France's history and culture.

The Investigation Begins

The Paris police immediately started a large investigation into the robbery. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated that 60 people were working on the case. Later, the Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, said that over 100 investigators were involved.

Police carefully checked CCTV camera footage to track the thieves' escape route. Pictures showed a small truck parked near the museum with its lift extended to a balcony. Reports also mentioned that police found tools, a blowtorch, gasoline, gloves, a walkie-talkie, a blanket, and a crown at the scene.

What Happened After the Robbery?

Right after the robbery, the Louvre museum was emptied and closed to visitors. It reopened on October 22, but the Galerie d'Apollon stayed closed. Interpol, an international police organization, added the stolen jewels to its database of stolen art.

French President Emmanuel Macron asked for security improvements to be put in place faster. These improvements were suggested after an earlier security check.

Museum director Laurence des Cars spoke to a government committee on October 22, 2025. She admitted that some parts of the museum's outside were not well covered by cameras. She also shared that she offered to resign on the day of the theft, but her offer was not accepted.

Reactions to the Theft

President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the robbery. He said the theft was an attack on France's history and culture. He promised that the stolen items would be recovered and that those responsible would face justice. He also mentioned plans to improve security at the Louvre.

Interior Minister Nuñez called it a "major robbery." He stressed that the stolen goods were incredibly valuable to France's heritage.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati noted how professional the thieves were. She said they entered calmly, broke display cases, took the jewels, and left quickly without violence.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin expressed concern about how the robbery made France look. He highlighted how easily the thieves managed to steal priceless jewels.

Some political leaders also voiced their disappointment. They used the event to criticize the government's handling of security. They felt that such a high-profile theft reflected poorly on the nation.