News
How 4 thieves stole 8 'priceless' items from Louvre museum with 'best in the world' security in 7 minutes
Heist.
October 20, 2025, 11:41 AM
The world-renowned Louvre museum was shut down in France after a daring heist that reportedly only took a few minutes.
More details have emerged of this heist.
According to media reports, eight items were stolen.
These included two brooches, two diadems, two necklaces, and two pairs of earrings.
According to ABC News, here are some of the affected items.
Screenshots from Musée du Louvre via ABC News
How did the thieves do it?
Initial reports suggested that the thieves had used a construction ladder outside the Louvre to break in.
They were dressed as construction workers.
New details have also emerged of their modus operandi.
The team secured the surroundings with construction cones before accessing the second floor by breaking the window with an angle grinder, according to a police statement.
They then smashed the two display cases using the angle grinder.
They were also equipped with other equipment, like small chainsaws.
According to the police, two of the thieves entered the museum wearing different-coloured vests, while the other two were on sports motorbikes.
The staff, noticing what was going on, "took to safety", according to the police. An alarm was triggered at 9:37am, and the thieves exited through the window and fled on the two motorbikes at 9:38am.
The thieves had also apparently tried to set the mobile freight elevator on fire before escaping, but failed to do so.
The CEO and founder of Art Recovery International told ABC News that the security at the Louvre is known as "the best in the world".
French news outlet BFMTV also secured footage of one of the men in the process of stealing the items.
Screenshot from BFMTV via The Sun
French president Emmanuel Macron vowed that the thieves would be caught.
Image from Musée du Louvre via ABC News and BFMTV via The Sun
