Thieves broke into the renowned Louvre museum in the early hours of Sunday, targeting the Apollo Gallery where they stole the remaining French crown jewels valued at 88 million euros. The audacious heist, dubbed “the heist of the century,” has grabbed global headlines and sparked a blame game within the country. The incident has led to debates ranging from viewing it as an assault on French heritage to criticizing the lax security measures not only at the Louvre but also at museums worldwide.
Despite the sensational nature of this theft, it is not an isolated incident. Similar crimes have occurred recently, such as the theft of valuable porcelain from the Adrien Dubouche Museum in September 2025 and the robbery of gold nuggets from Paris’s National Museum of Natural History in the same month. Other notable thefts include the disappearance of 18th-century snuffboxes from the Cognacq-Jay Museum in November 2024 and the armed gang stealing jewels from the Hiéron Museum in Paray-le-Monial.
Christopher Marinello, the founder of Art Recovery International, highlighted the financial constraints faced by most museums regarding security funding. The targeting of a well-funded institution like the Louvre sends a strong message about the vulnerability of all museums to such crimes.
Politicians seized on the Louvre heist as an opportunity to push their agendas, with opposition figures labeling it a national embarrassment amid ongoing political turmoil in France. Calls for resignations within the museum’s leadership have intensified, with demands for accountability and improved security measures.
While questions arise about the effectiveness of the Louvre’s security systems, officials deny any failures in the museum’s security apparatus. Staff complaints about overwork and mismanagement have also surfaced, indicating long-standing issues within the institution.
Efforts to enhance security and address staff concerns have been ongoing, with plans for a significant restoration project at the Louvre to accommodate more visitors and alleviate overcrowding. Despite these initiatives, the recent heist has raised doubts about the adequacy of security measures and management oversight at the iconic museum.
The investigation into the theft is in full swing, with authorities hopeful that the stolen jewels will be recovered intact. The symbolic significance of the stolen crown jewels adds another layer of distress to the situation, with experts and commentators lamenting the loss as a blow to French history and pride.