**Theft Reported at the Louvre Museum, Authorities Investigate**
PARIS (AP) — A theft occurred at the Louvre Museum on Sunday, France’s culture minister announced, prompting the museum to close for the day as authorities launched an investigation.
“A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum,” Culture Minister Rachida Dati wrote on X. The Louvre subsequently announced it would close “for exceptional reasons,” but did not provide further details about the incident.
No injuries were reported during the event. Minister Dati confirmed she was on site and that an investigation was underway.
According to reports, the thieves used a freight elevator to gain direct access to a targeted room in the Apollo Gallery. They reportedly broke windows and stole “nine pieces from the jewellery collection of Napoleon and the Empress,” according to the French newspaper Le Parisien.
The Louvre has a long history of thefts and attempted robberies. One of the most famous incidents occurred in 1911, when the Mona Lisa was stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia, a former museum worker who hid inside the building overnight and walked out with the painting concealed under his coat. The artwork was recovered two years later in Florence, an episode that significantly contributed to the Mona Lisa’s global fame.
In another notable case in 1983, two Renaissance-era suits of armor were stolen from the museum and only recovered nearly four decades afterward.
The Louvre’s extensive collection also reflects the legacy of Napoleonic-era looting, a subject that continues to fuel ongoing restitution debates.
Home to more than 33,000 works, the Louvre’s vast holdings include antiquities, sculptures, and paintings from Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the classical world, as well as masterpieces from European artists. Some of its star attractions include the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
The Galerie d’Apollon, the site of Sunday’s reported theft, is renowned for displaying a selection of the French Crown Jewels.
On a typical day, the museum can draw up to 30,000 visitors, underscoring its status as one of the world’s most visited cultural landmarks.
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