PARIS and LONDON (AP) — Several people disguised as construction workers broke into the world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday, opening display cases and stealing jewelry that once belonged to Emperor Napoleon and his wife, officials said.
At least nine pieces of jewelery of “inestimable heritage and historical value” were stolen in the brazen heist before the thieves made off on motorbikes, two ministers said.
The suspects “broke” a window and entered the museum’s Apollo Gallery, which houses the French crown jewels, among other artifacts, around 9:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, the museum said in a statement. Details of the pieces that were stolen during the brazen theft had not yet been made public.
“Investigations have begun and a precise list of the stolen objects is being prepared,” the museum said in a statement.
French police officers investigate an alleged robbery at the Louvre Museum on Quai Francois Mitterrand in Paris on October 19, 2025.
Resign Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images
French Interior Minister Laurent Núñez said in an interview on local radio that the value of the items would be “inestimable.”
At least three suspects appeared to have been involved, Nunez said.
He said they appeared to have used a construction ladder to enter the building.
The alleged robbery lasted about seven minutes, he said.
The robbers were dressed in construction workers’ uniforms and had hoods over their heads, said an investigator with the Banditry Suppression Brigade, a special police unit of the French Ministry of the Interior investigating art robberies and thefts.
Investigators said it appears two of the thieves entered the Apollo Gallery and one stayed outside. He said the thieves used small chainsaws to open boxes displaying the jewelry.
Police officers stand near the Louvre museum pyramid after reports of a robbery, in Paris, France, on October 19, 2025.
Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
A notice posted on the museum’s website shortly after said: “The Louvre Museum will be closed today for exceptional reasons. We thank you for your understanding.”
The decision to close the museum was made jointly by its management, the police and the Ministry of the Interior, museum officials said in a statement. The doors were closed as a “security measure and to preserve traces and evidence for the investigation,” the statement said.
Kaci Benedetti, who was visiting Paris from the United States, told ABC News that she was waiting in line to enter the museum on Sunday when a commotion began. Police ran through the yard where Benedetti and his family were waiting, he said.
Forensic police officers arrive at the Louvre museum following reports of a robbery, in Paris, France, on October 19, 2025.
Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
He watched as officers tried to enter the building through a side door, but “they couldn’t because they were closed,” he said.
“We could see people running inside and some were banging on the glass doors to get out, but they couldn’t because they were closed,” Benedetti said. “Then the police and military police arrived. After about a At that time they announced that the Louvre was closed for today.”
The news of the theft first came from the French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, who saying on social networks: “This morning a robbery occurred at the inauguration of the Louvre Museum.”
Dati added: “There are no injuries to report. I am at the scene along with museum teams and police. Investigations are underway.”
ABC News’ Victoria Beaule contributed to this report.
