Two Arrested In $102 Million Louvre Heist, International Escape Foiled

The Louvre Museum has discreetly transferred select items from its renowned collection of French crown jewels to the secure vaults of the Bank of France, located just 500 metres away on the Right Bank of the Seine, in response to a high-profile daylight robbery that highlighted vulnerabilities in the institution's security infrastructure. According to French radio station RTL, citing anonymous sources, the operation occurred on Friday under tight police escort, relocating treasures from the opulent Galerie d'Apollon—constructed in 1661 by Louis XIV and home to Napoleonic-era artefacts—to the central bank's subterranean facility, which safeguards the nation's gold reserves 27 metres below ground. Neither the Louvre nor the Bank of France has issued a comment on the matter, amid ongoing investigations into the October 19 theft.

While initial reports cited eight stolen pieces valued at $102 million, authorities later clarified nine items were taken, including emerald necklaces and earrings from Empress Marie-Louise's parure, a sapphire tiara belonging to Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense, and a reliquary brooch—though Empress Eugénie's diamond-encrusted crown was recovered nearby, damaged but intact.

The robbery, the first from the Louvre since a 1998 painting theft, has ignited national introspection in France, with many decrying it as a profound embarrassment to cultural stewardship. Attracting over 10 million visitors annually, the museum has faced longstanding complaints from staff about overcrowding, insufficient surveillance—particularly external cameras—and understaffing, exacerbated by budget constraints.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati described the raid as a "professional four-minute operation" by an organised gang, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to vow full recovery efforts and justice. A team of 60 investigators, supported by Interpol—which added the jewels to its Stolen Works of Art database—is pursuing leads across Europe, focusing on black-market networks adept at dismantling and reselling gems.

Also Read: Louvre Moves Crown Jewels to Bank of France After $102 Million Daylight Heist

This incident underscores escalating threats to global cultural sites, following recent heists at the Dresden Green Vault and Drents Museum, and has accelerated calls for €50 million in Louvre upgrades, including enhanced alarms and staffing. Experts like art crime specialist Arthur Brand warn that the jewels' historical significance far exceeds their €88 million market value, with thieves likely to recut diamonds and melt metals for anonymity.

As the museum partially reopened on October 22—keeping the gallery shuttered—the transfer to the Bank of France represents a pragmatic safeguard, ensuring France's imperial legacy endures beyond the shadows of this audacious breach.

Also Read: Louvre Opens Doors to Crowds, But Apollo Gallery Remains Sealed After Heist