Jewel robbery in the Louvre – police hunt thieves after a spectacular robbery!

Jewel robbery in the Louvre – police hunt thieves after a spectacular robbery!

On October 19, 2025, a spectacular robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris attracted international attention. Unknown perpetrators escaped with “priceless” jewelry after breaking into the museum between 9:30 and 9:40 a.m. on Sunday morning. The perpetrators, apparently a gang of three to four people, broke into the premises with chainsaws and concentrated on two display cases in the “Apollon” room. To gain access, they had themselves hoisted up in a cargo basket to a room in the museum and arrived on a motor scooter, which was later found by the police.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed the attack, which luckily resulted in no injuries. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said the raid lasted only seven minutes. The Paris public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into "organized gang theft" and "formation of a criminal organization." As a result of the attack, the Louvre will remain closed that day “for exceptional reasons.” It is an extremely rare closure of the museum, which was the most visited in the world in 2024 with almost nine million visitors.

Protection against overcrowding and protests

In addition to the challenges of the robbery, the Louvre faced another problem on Monday, the day after the robbery: a strike by its employees. They protest against intolerable working conditions, chronic understaffing and the associated excessive tourism. These developments led to the museum suddenly closing during an internal meeting, leaving thousands of visitors in long queues at the gates.

In the past, the Louvre has rarely closed, typically only in times of war or during the pandemic. Against this backdrop, President Emmanuel Macron announced a comprehensive 10-year renovation plan to address existing problems such as water leaks and infrastructure overload. At the heart of the plan is creating a dedicated space for the iconic “Mona Lisa,” which attracts around 20,000 visitors a day.

Financial challenges and renovation plans

Employees also complain about inadequate rest areas, limited toilets and extreme temperatures in the museum. An internal memo from the Louvre president warns of structural defects and intolerable conditions for visitors and employees. The full renovation plan is estimated at between 700 and 800 million euros and will be financed through ticket sales, private donations and government funding. In this context, an increase in ticket prices for non-EU tourists is also expected this year.

In the current situation, the Louvre, despite its importance and popularity, is in an unclear financial situation, which poses additional challenges for the future of the world's most famous museum. The joint dynamic of attack and strike raises questions about safety and working conditions in the cultural heart of Paris as investigations and discussions between management and employees continue.

exxpress.at reports that… apnews.com provides additional details... and cnn.com adds important context.