Thieves made away with 'priceless jewels' in robbery at Louvre

The Louvre said it would close “for exceptional reasons”, offering no further details on the heist

Police officers look for clues by a basket lift used by thieves Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 at the Louvre museum in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Thieves used a basket lift to reach the Louvre on Sunday morning and, as tourists were already inside, forced a window, smashed display cases and fled with jewels of “inestimable value”, France’s interior minister said.

The world’s most-visited museum closed for the day as police sealed gates and ushered visitors out during an investigation into the brazen, seven-minute strike.