Tourists panicked and fled when a group of highly organized criminals carried out a robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, prompting the museum to close temporarily. The audacious thieves managed to steal valuable jewelry pieces that once belonged to Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte within a mere seven minutes. French authorities confirmed the incident occurred as the museum opened, with two men conducting the theft while another kept watch.
The stolen items reportedly included a tiara, brooch, necklace, and more. The hooded perpetrators gained access to the renowned building through ongoing construction work, using a ladder to enter a room within the Apollo Gallery. They swiftly cut through windows to enter the premises, with one individual stationed outside as a lookout. The entire robbery lasted just seven minutes, as revealed by French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.
Witnesses observed scooters arriving at the scene, with the riders heavily disguised and armed with chainsaws. The criminals made off with nine significant pieces from the Napoleon collection, displaying a high level of organization. One of the stolen jewels, believed to be the priceless crown of Empress Eugenie, was found damaged outside the museum.
Due to the exceptional circumstances, the Louvre Museum, the world’s most visited museum, announced its closure for the day. French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati confirmed that no injuries occurred during the robbery and that a police investigation was in progress. Nuñez emphasized the necessity of closing the museum to preserve evidence for investigators, reassuring the public that efforts were underway to swiftly apprehend the culprits.
Visitors recounted scenes of panic inside the Louvre following the robbery, with individuals attempting to exit through locked glass doors while law enforcement responded to the situation. Napoleon and Josephine’s extravagant jewelry collection, acquired during their reign as Emperor and Empress of France, featured pieces taken from royalty and acquired from various regions of the Empire.