Hollywood Heist In Real Life: Here’s How Thieves Steal Priceless Jewels From Paris’ Louvre Museum In Just 4 Minutes | World News

Louvre Museum Theft: The Louvre Museum in Paris closed its doors for “exceptional reasons” on Sunday after a brazen robbery at the Apollo Gallery sent shockwaves through the world’s most visited museum.

Police cordoned off the entrance to the iconic glass pyramid. Armed soldiers patrolled the courtyards. A manhunt was conducted on the streets of Paris to catch the perpetrators.

French authorities confirmed that the thieves used the furniture lift to reach the gallery, breaking in through a window shortly after opening time. In just four minutes, the intruders rode motorcycles carrying Napoleonic-era jewels, leaving a crown on the pavement.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the theft as “an attack on a heritage we cherish” and promised justice. “Everything is being done everywhere, under the leadership of the Paris prosecutor’s office, to achieve this,” he said.

The robbery took place around 9:30 am local time (07:30 GMT). The robbers attacked King Louis XIV. Tourists wandered through the gilded halls while focusing on the Gallery of Apollo, a hall built by Louis XIV and decorated with gold moldings, frescoes and historical treasures.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez called it a “massive robbery” and said the thieves used the sidecar lift to break into and escape motorcycles carrying “jewelry of inestimable value”.

The Louvre evacuated visitors and posted online that it would remain closed under “exceptional circumstances.” Streets near the River Seine were sealed off while investigators processed the scene.

“It was crazy, like a Hollywood movie,” said American tourist Talia Ocampo. No injuries were reported. Authorities believe four people carried out the operation.

The stolen items belonged to Napoleon I’s wife, Empress Marie-Louise, and Napoleon III’s wife. It belonged to Napoleon’s wife, Empress Eugenie. Eight items were taken from high security safes. These include a tiara from the Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense sapphire set, a matching necklace, a single sapphire earring, an emerald necklace and a pair of emerald earrings from the Marie-Louise set, a “sacred” brooch, Empress Eugenie’s tiara, and another large brooch of Empress Eugenie.

Empress Eugenie’s crown, adorned with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, was abandoned outside the museum during the escape. The Apollo Gallery still houses the royal collection of hardstone vessels, as well as other historic jewels such as the Regent, Sancy and Hortensia diamonds. Jewelery is priceless not only in monetary terms but also in cultural terms.

Thieves combined speed, planning and tools. Police said they arrived on a scooter equipped with grinding machines. Using a crane, they accessed the gallery from the outside and cut the window panes with a disc cutter. A witness on a nearby bike said two men climbed the crane, broke the window and got inside within thirty seconds.

Two of the thieves were reportedly wearing yellow safety vests to match the ongoing construction work on the façade overlooking the Seine.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati said authorities arrived within minutes of receiving the warning. “To be honest, this operation took almost four minutes. It was very fast,” he said.

In the images, it can be seen that the lifter supported on the balcony window has now been removed.

The Louvre remains closed. Investigations continue. Stolen jewels could end up in private hands or disappear into underground markets, leaving the museum and the world wondering about the fate of France’s Napoleonic treasures.