Recent high-profile robberies at the Louvre Museum include a brazen jewelry heist on October 19, 2025, and the infamous theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911. The museum has also experienced numerous smaller, less-famous thefts throughout its history.
2025 jewelry heist
On October 19, 2025, a group of thieves stole eight priceless pieces of 19th-century royal jewelry during a seven-minute daytime raid.
The target: The thieves targeted items in the Galerie d'Apollon, including pieces from the sapphire set of Queen Marie-Amélie, the emerald set of Empress Marie-Louise, and the tiara and bodice bow of Empress Eugénie. A crown belonging to Empress Eugénie was dropped during the escape and was recovered, albeit damaged.
The method: Four masked thieves used a truck with a mechanical lift to reach a second-floor window. They cut through the glass with power tools, threatened guards, and smashed display cases. They escaped on scooters after attempting to set fire to their vehicle.
The aftermath: The museum was closed, and an estimated value of €88 million (approx. $102 million) was placed on the stolen items. Police are investigating with the help of CCTV footage and recovered equipment. Art recovery experts believe the thieves were after the materials—gems and gold—and may dismantle the jewelry, making it difficult to trace.
1911 Mona Lisa theft
One of the most famous art heists in history, the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa was astonishingly simple.
The thief: The culprit was Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian handyman who had previously worked at the Louvre.
The method: Peruggia hid inside a supply closet overnight and, the next morning, took the painting off the wall, wrapped it in a blanket, and simply walked out of the museum. He was mistaken for an employee when a plumber helped him open a locked service door.
The recovery: The painting remained missing for over two years until Peruggia was caught trying to sell it to an art dealer in Florence.
The effect: The theft generated massive worldwide publicity, which elevated the Mona Lisa from a well-regarded piece to a global phenomenon. The incident also revealed the museum's lax security at the time.
Other notable thefts
Le Chemin de Sèvres (1998): A painting by Camille Corot was cut from its frame and stolen. Despite prompting a security overhaul, the painting has never been recovered.
Jeweled sword (1976): A jeweled sword belonging to King Charles X was stolen by masked men who entered via scaffolding. It has never been recovered.
Antique jewels (1966): Five pieces of antique jewelry, on loan to the United States, were stolen from John F. Kennedy International Airport while being transported back to Paris. They were later recovered in a grocery bag.