Since October 19, 2025, France has been focused on the major theft that took place at the Louvre Museum. Early that morning, around 9:30 a.m., four people used a stolen basket lift to reach a window on the second floor and entered the Gallery of Apollo. The entire heist lasted only about seven minutes. During that time, the group broke open the display cases and stole eight historic pieces of jewelry, estimated to be worth approximately $102 million.
Once the thieves escaped, a huge investigation began. Police teams searched the area, reviewed security footage, and collected evidence left behind in the gallery and on the equipment used to enter the museum. Investigators found DNA evidence in several locations, which helped them identify potential suspects. Because of the scale of the theft, the Louvre tightened its security and closed the Gallery of Apollo to the public until further notice.
Within the first week, authorities arrested four suspects who were believed to be connected to the robbery. However, after questioning and reviewing the available evidence, three of the four were released. Only one suspect remains in custody while investigators work to build the case. Police have stated that the people involved in the heist appear to be local petty criminals rather than professional art thieves, which explains some of the mistakes made during the robbery.
In the aftermath of the crime scene, the police had recovered one stolen item. The imperial crown of Empress Eugénie, one of the valuable pieces taken, was found outside the museum soon after the theft. It had been damaged during the escape, but experts at the Louvre say it can be fully restored. The museum plans to repair the crown and eventually return it to display once security improvements, such as high-tech cameras and an AI security system, are completed.
Even with one piece recovered, most of the jewels are still missing. Investigators continue to search for the remaining items and are following all possible leads. One major concern is that the jewels could have been taken apart or sold in pieces, which would make locating them much more difficult. Because the stolen items are well-known and easily recognizable, they cannot be sold on the regular art market, so investigators worry they may have been moved into private collections or smuggled out of the country.
The Louvre has stayed closed in certain areas while the investigation continues. Security teams are reviewing procedures, and the museum is making changes such as increased security and higher-tech surveillance to prevent anything like this from happening again. The incident has also raised questions across France about how museums protect cultural treasures, especially items with such high historical value.
Right now, the search for the missing jewels is still active, and detectives are continuing to gather evidence and follow new leads. Although one crown has been recovered, most of the stolen pieces remain missing. Authorities say they are reviewing footage, analyzing forensic results, and working with national and international agencies to track any movement of the jewels. Many questions about the heist remain unanswered, and France continues to wait as investigators push forward, hoping to recover the remaining treasures.
Sources
Despite charges filed against 4 suspects in the Louvre heist, stolen jewels still missing – ABC News
Everything we know about the Louvre jewelry heist
Louvre heist suspects are local petty criminals, Paris prosecutor says | CNN
Louvre promises to restore imperial crown dropped by thieves during museum heist | PBS News
Paris prosecutor says Louvre thieves were amateurs. What we know about Louvre heist suspects
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