How the thieves pulled off the stunning Louvre heist
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Police stand guard outside the Louvre after a reported jewelry theft in Paris. Photo: Remon Haazen/Getty Images
The thieves that stole historic jewelry from Paris' famous Louvre museum pulled off the heist in mere minutes.
The big picture: The burglars, who remain at large, used angle grinders, chainsaws, scooters and a ladder lift to pull off the heist, which has been seen by many as an attack on France itself.
Driving the news: The Louvre was closed Sunday after thieves made away with the jewelry during daylight hours.
- Visitors were told to evacuate the building. No injuries were reported.
- Officials quickly launched a probe and assessed the damage.
Zoom out: The stunning burglary has captivated France and echoes scenes from a Jean-Pierre Melville classic.
Based on what we know, here's how the thieves pulled off the Louvre heist.
- The following series of events occurred in four minutes.
Bandits arrive
The break-in began at 9:34am local time, according to a press release French prosecutors sent to Axios Monday.
- "Several" thieves used a truck lift (or cherrypicker) to enter through a window into the Galerie d'Apollon — a room packed with the royal collection of hardstone vessels and France's crown jewels, the museum told Axios.
Break-in through a window
The bandits set up the lift ladder against the southeast corner of the building, per photographs from the scene.
- A gray Mitsubishi aerial platform was used for the break-in, Le Parisien reported.
- They used angle grinders to slice through the window panes, triggering alarms inside the museum.
Threats with chainsaws
Once inside, the suspects used gas-powered small chainsaws and box cutters to threaten security guards, according to NPR.
- The two suspects posed as workers, per Le Parisien. And they wore yellow-green vests, prosecutors said.
Stealing the jewels in vests
Video footage published by multiple outlets shows the alleged thieves cutting through a glass case.
- French Culture Minister Rachida Dati described the heist as "very professional," in an interview with TF1.
What items were stolen from the Louvre
The bandits snagged historic loot from the 19th century.
- "Beyond their market value, these items have inestimable heritage and historical value," a statement from the museum reads.
- France's interior minister called the collection "priceless."
Eight pieces of jewelry were confirmed by the French Culture Ministry as taken so far:
- A tiara from the jewelry set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense.
- A necklace from the sapphire set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense.
- An earring of the same sapphire set.
- An emerald necklace from the set of Empress Marie-Louise.
- A pair of emerald earrings from the same set.
- A "reliquary" brooch.
- An Empress Eugénie diadem.
- A large Empress Eugénie corsage bow.
Fleeing on motorcycles
The bandits fled the building by 9:38am, prosecutors said.
- The group hopped on Yamaha TMax scooters and drove toward a highway near the Seine.
- A vehicle believed to have been used by one of the thieves was found near the Louvre, per the Ministry of Culture. He reportedly fled on foot.
The investigation continues
French officials have 60 detectives on the case, NBC News reports.
- The Louvre remains closed.
- Prosecutors told Axios in a statement that "a vest and equipment" were recovered at the scene, as well as "a bottle of liquid" poured into the truck.
- "All avenues will be explored," the prosecutors said.
What they're saying: "We will recover the works and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Everything is being done, everywhere, to achieve this, under the leadership of the Paris prosecutor's office," President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X.
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