WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
Choose language:
Paris, France — October 19, 2025
In a shocking crime that has stunned France and the global art world, thieves carried out a daring daylight robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday, stealing several priceless items from the museum’s collection of French crown jewels.
The Heist
Authorities say the theft took place around 9:30 a.m., shortly after the museum opened to visitors. According to preliminary reports, a group of masked individuals accessed the Galerie d’Apollon, where France’s royal jewels are displayed, smashed reinforced glass cases, and escaped on motorbikes within minutes.
The entire operation reportedly lasted less than five minutes. No staff or visitors were injured.
Security footage reviewed by investigators shows the suspects using a cherry-picker lift to reach a side window overlooking the Seine River. The window appears to have been tampered with before the museum opened.
What Was Taken
Among the missing items are several Napoleonic-era jewels, including pieces once owned by Empress Eugénie, wife of Emperor Napoleon III. Early reports indicate that the emerald-set crown of Empress Eugénie was found outside the museum in damaged condition, but other items remain unaccounted for.
Officials have described the stolen artifacts as being of “inestimable cultural and historical value.”
Investigation Underway
The Louvre was immediately evacuated and remains closed as investigators from France’s Brigade de Répression du Banditisme (BRB) — the country’s elite anti-gang unit — comb the site for clues.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez called the heist “a deliberate and professional operation,” while Culture Minister Rachida Dati vowed to “do everything in our power to recover what belongs to the nation.”
Paris police have launched an international alert, working with Interpol and border agencies to track the suspects and prevent the jewels from leaving the country.
Shock and Questions About Security
The incident has reignited debate over museum security and resource challenges. The Louvre, which hosts more than 30,000 visitors a day, had recently reduced its private security staff following budget reviews earlier this year.
Art crime experts say the theft’s precision suggests inside knowledge and possible coordination with black-market collectors.
Cultural Impact
The Louvre Museum — home to the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and countless global treasures — has long symbolized France’s artistic heritage. Sunday’s heist is being described as one of the most serious thefts in modern French history, and a blow to national pride.
As investigators pursue leads across Europe, French officials are urging patience — and promising that the “jewels of the Republic” will one day return home.
Author: M.J
