Louvre robbery of the century: the perpetrators were "common thieves"

In mid-October 2025, the Louvre in Paris - the most visited museum in the world - was the scene of one of the most daring thefts of recent decades. On a Sunday morning, when the museum was fully open, a group of perpetrators managed to break into the Galerie d'Apollon, smash the display cases and take the crown jewels of the French monarchy, worth some 88 million euros, in less than seven minutes. But the perpetrators were probably just "common thieves," The Guardian reported.

According to Reuters, the thieves arrived at the building in a stolen truck with a lifting platform that allowed them to reach a first-floor window. From there, they entered the hall, which is normally guarded by a state-of-the-art security system, and smashed the display cases within minutes. However, the cameras failed to capture enough detail at the fateful moment - some of them were out of date and the connection to the central console was not working, according to Le Monde. After escaping on scooters, they disappeared into the streets of Paris before the police arrived.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau then told Franceinfo and The Guardian that the investigation so far had not been the work of an elite criminal gang, as initially thought, but rather the work of "ordinary offenders". Two of the accused are a couple with two children from the Seine-Saint-Denis district, one of France's poorest departments. "It's not a normal everyday crime, but it's not a sophisticated mafia-type operation either." she said.

According to AP News and France 24, four people have been charged so far. In addition to the couple, police have also arrested a 34-year-old Algerian man who has lived in France since 2010 and a 39-year-old Frenchman previously prosecuted for theft. Both men have partially admitted their involvement. Investigators are examining DNA traces left on the lifting platform, gloves and other items left by the perpetrators during their escape. Le Monde reported that the thieves dropped the most valuable of the looted artifacts during their escape - the crown of Empress Eugeniedecorated with emeralds and diamonds. It was later found damaged near the museum, reinforcing the assumption that this was an impulsive act, not a meticulously planned operation.

Among other things, jewels of immense historical value have disappeared - for example, the emerald necklace that Napoleon I gave to his second wife Marie Louise, or a tiara with more than 2,000 diamonds, once the property of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, Euronews reports. However, these pieces are so unique that they are virtually impossible to sell. As Beccuau pointed out to Sky News, "anyone who tried to monetize the jewelry would immediately attract attention". Police are therefore investigating the possibility that the stones could be dismantled, re-cut or used in money laundering.

The theft has sparked a heated debate in France about the security of cultural institutions. France 24 recalls that the last time a similar event happened was in 1911, when a Mona Lisa - the painting wasn't found until two years later. The current case has shown that even modern technology and dozens of security cameras are no guarantee of safety. As Le Monde points out, the thieves did not need professional contacts or a sophisticated network - all they needed was determination, courage and a well-timed plan.

Although four people ended up behind bars, at least one of the perpetrators is still on the run. The jewelry trail is still going nowhere and the investigation continues. According to Beccuau, police "investigates all possible markets where the jewels could be sold or used for money laundering".

The Louver robbery thus remains a fascinating story of boldness, mistakes and paradox - a crime that was as incredible as it was unprofessional. And until the lost jewels are recovered, the Louvre will be a reminder that even the most guarded place in the world can be vulnerable.

gnews.cz - GH