Louvre museum reopens in Paris, days after jewelry theft worth ₹894 crore stunned the world
The Louvre museum in Paris welcomed visitors again on Wednesday, three days after a daring heist saw thieves steal historic jewels valued at over $100 million (around ₹894 crore or €88 million). The reopening follows intense international attention after the theft of several high-profile royal coins.
French authorities confirmed that the investigation was ongoing, with the focus being on assessing security measures. Museum leadership has faced questions about protocols as the public returns to view remaining collections.
The jewelry was stolen in a quick raid shortly after the museum reopened on Sunday. Investigators say the thieves used a truck with an extendable ladder, something commonly seen at moving companies in Paris, to gain access to the Apollo Gallery through a window. Using cutting tools, they broke into the windows and removed eight valuable pieces, including an emerald and diamond necklace given by Napoleon I to Empress Marie-Louise, as well as a tiara that belonged to Empress Eugénie.
Security officials said the operation lasted only seven minutes. The thieves left quickly after securing the items, before security could intervene. Live footage on news portals showed visitors returning to the Louvre entrance, underscoring public interest in the museum’s rapid recovery.
The scale of the loss attracted the attention of French prosecutors and lawmakers. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau addressed the Senate committee, emphasizing the seriousness of the theft and its impact on national heritage. The museum director was questioned on how such a theft could have occurred in one of the most secure cultural institutions in France.
Investigators believe four people were involved in Sunday’s robbery. Authorities analyze fingerprints and other forensic evidence collected at crime scenes to identify suspects.
“The curator of the Louvre estimated the damage at 88 million euros,” Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said on Tuesday, quoted by AFP.
This theft comes just a month after another high-profile theft at the Paris Natural History Museum, where gold nuggets worth more than $1.5 million were stolen. These incidents sparked a broader debate about security in Parisian museums.
