Louvre robbery: see the stolen jewels
See what was stolen during the robbery at Paris’ famous Louvre Museum.
Months after thieves abandoned Napoleon’s crown during a brazen daytime heist at the Louvre in Paris, newly released photos show the diamond- and emerald-encrusted headpiece has been severely deformed.
The crown of Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, who ruled France in the 19th century, has been discovered at the foot of the Louvre’s Apollo Museum, the museum announced in a February 4 news release. Balaclava-wearing thieves who broke into the Louvre in October and stole millions of French crown jewels dropped a gold crown.
Investigators have not yet located the eight pieces of jewelry, but were able to recover the crown and a palmetto fragment from the crown, which was found near the display case that housed it, the museum said. Now, more than three months after the theft, the Louvre has released the first photo of the crown.
The crown was damaged when the thieves tried to remove it from the glass display case through a narrow sawn hole, the museum said. The crown was shattered during the robbery and four palmettos were removed, the museum said.
According to the Louvre, about 10 of the 1,354 diamonds and one of the eight golden eagles that adorned the crown remain missing. But the museum said the headpiece is still largely intact and can be restored.
“Although the crown was catastrophically damaged and severely deformed, it remained in almost perfect condition and could be fully restored,” the museum said in a news release issued in French, adding that the restoration process would be overseen by a newly formed expert committee.
The Louvre, the world’s most visited museum, has been reeling since a major robbery and has come under intense scrutiny over security lapses. Some French officials called the incident a national humiliation.
How did the robbers get into the Louvre?
French officials said the robbery occurred at around 9:30 a.m. local time on October 19, as visitors rushed into the museum. The four suspects were driving a truck carrying an electric telescoping ladder and stopped on a road near the Seine River south of the Louvre Museum.
He then extended the ladder to the museum’s second-floor balcony. Officials said two suspects climbed onto the balcony while the other two remained in the truck. They used power tools to break through a window leading into the gilded Apollo Museum, where France’s treasures are on display.
Once inside, the suspect set off an alarm and broke a glass display case, snatching pieces of historic jewelry as museum staff evacuated panicked tourists, officials said. The robbery took place about 270 meters from the Mona Lisa painting.
The two suspects then climbed down the ladder and all four fled on two motorcycles, officials said. Paris prosecutor Laure Becuaux previously said the robbery appeared to be the work of a petty criminal rather than a professional.
A total of nine items were targeted by the criminals and eight were stolen. The thieves lost the ninth crown, Empress Eugenie’s crown, while on the run.
During the investigation, French authorities arrested several suspects, six of whom were later released, according to Reuters, the Guardian newspaper and radio network Ici, formerly known as France Bleu. The radio network reported on February 4 that four men have since been charged in the incident.
What jewels were stolen from the Louvre?
Eight pieces were taken from a partially matching set, museum officials said.
- sapphire tiara: It was once owned by 19th-century French queens Marie Amélie and Hortense.
- sapphire necklace: From the Marie Amélie and Hortense collection.
- Single sapphire earrings: One of a pair from the Marie Amélie and Hortense collection.
- emerald necklace: Worn by Empress Marie Louise, second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte.
- emerald earrings: Matches the necklace from the Marie Louise collection.
- Tiara: Worn by Empress Eugenie of Napoleon III.
- Large body knot brooch: Also known as the “corsage ribbon brooch” from Empress Eugénie’s collection.
- holy relic brooch: A brooch designed to display historical relics.
The jewelry is worth an estimated $102.63 million, Becuaux said. Experts previously told USA TODAY that the stolen jewelry may have been dismantled or melted down, making it difficult to trace the items to museums.
Louvre museum strengthens security
News of the robbery shocked the world and prompted criticism of the museum’s inadequate security and crumbling infrastructure. A report released by France’s official auditing body, known as the Cour des Comtes, said museums’ inability to update their infrastructure was exacerbated by excessive spending on art.
The Louvre’s director and curator, Laurence de Cal, previously admitted that the museum’s cameras failed to detect the robbery and that there were not enough outdoor cameras to monitor the museum’s surroundings. She added that outdoor surveillance cameras did not fully cover the museum’s facade, and the window where the robbers entered was not monitored by surveillance cameras.
In response to the robbery, French authorities announced that the Louvre Museum will install additional security measures on nearby public roads, including anti-intrusion devices and barriers to prevent vehicle collisions.
In November, the Louvre announced it would install 100 external cameras by the end of 2026 as part of measures to strengthen security. De Kaal said the museum would also establish a “sophisticated police station on the grounds of the Louvre.”
Contributions: Carissa Wadick, N’Dare Yancey Bragg, Janet Rourke, George Petras, USA Today. Reuters
