The Louvre Museum, located in Paris, France, is the most visited museum in the world. It is home to many widely known works of art, including Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. A recent robbery at this historical museum has taken the internet by storm. People around the world are utterly puzzled at the simplicity of the heist. How did they do it? How did a group of people manage to break into the most famous museum in the world?
On October 19, 2025, in broad daylight, a team of four robbers stole 102 million dollars’ worth of jewels from the Louvre. They entered and exited the building using a truck-mounted mechanical ladder, forcing their way through a window leading to the Apollo Gallery. The robbers used disc cutters to slice through the display cases to access the jewels. The entire heist lasted a total of seven minutes, with the thieves eventually fleeing through the streets of Paris on scooters.
In total, nine items were stolen, including the diamond and emerald-studded crown of Empress Eugénie. The crown was later found on a street near the museum, having been dropped by the robbers in the midst of their getaway. Unfortunately, besides the crown, none of the other items have been recovered, and the police are still searching for the priceless artifacts. Many believe that the jewels have already been dismantled and sold, making their recovery extremely difficult. In terms of the robbers themselves, seven people have been arrested for alleged involvement in the burglary, and four have been formally charged. However, at least one person from the original team remains at large.
This is not the first time the Louvre has faced theft. There have been many incidents in the past due to the poor security system, including an antique Jewelry theft in 1966 and the robbery of Mona Lisa in 1911. According to reports, the password to the security system was simply “Louvre,” and there was only one security camera outside of the Apollo Gallery, which did not cover the window that the thieves used, facilitating this heist. Prior to the incident, France’s Court of Auditors had urged the museum to upgrade its security to a more high-tech, modernized system.
In the wake of the robbery, the Louvre’s security system is under major scrutiny. The museum is immediately implementing a 92 million dollar plan to improve security. By the end of the year, anti-intrusion and vehicle ramming barriers are expected to be installed on public roads near the museum. They are also installing an abundance of brand-new cameras. After security audits revealed major gaps, the museum is making it a point to prioritize these changes in order to prevent future robberies.
Sources:
https://abcnews.go.com/International/password-louvres-video-surveillance-system-louvre-employee/story?id=127236297
https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/louvre-heist-rcna242323
https://www.foxnews.com/travel/louvre-heist-broad-daylight-amid-apparent-security-lapses-puts-global-museums-alert
https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/visitor-trails/the-louvre-s-masterpieces