Screenshot of the official website of the Louvre on October 19, 2025, with a notice saying, "The Louvre Museum will be closed today for exceptional reasons. We apologize for the inconvenience."

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati on Sunday reported a theft at the Louvre in Paris as the world-renowned museum said it was closing for the day, the France 24 reported on Sunday. According to the AP, thieves used a basket lift to break into the Louvre on Sunday morning, forced a window, smashed display cases and escaped with jewels of “inestimable value,” France’s interior minister said.

“A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum,” she wrote on X, according to the France 24 report. There were no injuries reported. Dati said she was at the museum and investigations were underway, according to the report.

A notice was posted on the official website of the Louvre on Sunday, saying, “The Louvre Museum will be closed today for exceptional reasons. We apologize for the inconvenience.” 

The Interior Ministry said that around 9:30 am several intruders forced open a window, stole jewels from vitrines and fled on two-wheelers. The ministry said forensic work is underway and a precise inventory of the stolen objects is being compiled, adding that the items have “inestimable” historical and patrimonial value. Dati and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez were on site with museum leadership, the AP reported on Sunday.

The thieves made off with nine pieces of jewelry, including brooches, necklaces and tiaras worn by Empress Josephine, that were displayed in the Napoleon and French Sovereigns display cases, according to the Forbes on Sunday, citing Le Parisien newspaper, working with AFP.

The incident took place in the space of 7 minutes, French interior minister told the radio station France Inter this morning. One of the jewels – a crown belonging to Emperess Eugénie – was later found outside the Louvre, damaged, according to the Forbes report.

According to the AP report, the police sealed off the museum and evacuated visitors. New arrivals were turned away and nearby streets were closed, according to the Interior Ministry.

According to the Louvre, every year, the Louvre welcomes nearly 9 million visitors. In 2024 alone, the museum welcomed 8.7 million visitors.

Global Times