Paris’s renowned Louvre Museum was the scene of a dramatic daylight robbery on Sunday morning when a group of thieves carried out a meticulously planned heist lasting only seven minutes. The criminals, arriving on scooters and equipped with chainsaws and a basket lift, broke into the Apollo Gallery and escaped with jewels belonging to the “Napoleon and the Empress” collection.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the theft, calling it a “major robbery” involving jewels of “inestimable value.” He said the robbers “entered from the outside using a basket lift” before cutting through windows and display panes to reach the targeted items.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati said she was on-site with police and museum staff following the incident. “No injuries have been reported. A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum,” she stated. The museum was closed immediately after the theft, and a detailed investigation was launched.

According to French daily Le Parisien, the thieves gained access via the Seine-facing façade, currently under renovation, and used a freight elevator to reach the Apollo Gallery. They broke four display cases and fled on motorcycles. In their haste, they reportedly dropped some items. One stolen piece, believed to have belonged to Empress Eugénie, was later recovered outside the museum in damaged condition.

Police believe the robbers had scouted the location in advance and took advantage of ongoing construction work that temporarily weakened the museum’s security. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as police evacuated visitors and sealed off nearby streets.

The Louvre Museum has a long history of high-profile thefts, including the 1911 disappearance of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, which was stolen by an Italian worker and recovered two years later in Florence. Despite modern security upgrades, the latest heist has renewed concerns about the protection of national treasures housed at one of the world’s most visited museums.

Authorities said the robbery took place just minutes before the museum’s official opening time. Security footage shows the suspects using a truck-mounted basket lift to reach an upper-level window. After breaking the glass, they entered the Apollo Gallery, which displays the French Crown Jewels.

The stolen collection included nine pieces, some belonging to the line of Emperor Napoleon and Empress Eugénie. The Louvre’s official website lists the Regent, Sancy, and Hortensia diamonds among its most prized possessions, though police have not confirmed whether these were among the stolen items.

French Interior Minister Nuñez told France Inter radio that the heist was completed within seven minutes and that the thieves “manifestly conducted reconnaissance beforehand.” He confirmed that investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and questioning witnesses.

Rachida Dati noted that while several items were stolen, the quick police response prevented further losses. “We have avoided what could have been an even greater cultural catastrophe,” she said.

The Louvre Museum has previously faced major security incidents. In 1983, 16th-century armour went missing but was rediscovered in 2011, and in 1998, a painting by Camille Corot titled Le Chemin de Sèvres was stolen and remains untraced.

This latest incident — taking place amid renovation work — has prompted renewed scrutiny of the museum’s security protocols, particularly regarding temporary vulnerabilities during construction.