The 7-Minute Louvre Museum Heist: How Thieves Stole Priceless Napoleon Jewelry Using Disc Cutters

The audacious heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris occurred at approximately 9:30 am local time, shocking the global art community.

A group of thieves executed a precisely timed operation at the world-famous Louvre Museum, utilizing disc cutters to gain access and stealing valuable jewelry in just seven minutes – a timeframe shorter than enjoying a standard serving of French fries.

Following the robbery, authorities were forced to close the renowned museum, which houses the iconic Mona Lisa, on Sunday morning.

While AFP initially reported the theft occurring between 9:30 and 9:40 am, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez later confirmed an even more astonishing timeline of merely seven minutes from entry to escape.

According to Minister Nunez's statement to Le Parisien, "Individuals entered from outside using a cherry picker and stole priceless jewelry" in an operation that "lasted seven minutes." The precision suggested significant advance planning.

Nunez elaborated that three or four perpetrators specifically targeted two display cases within the Gallerie d'Apollon. "It was manifestly a team that had conducted reconnaissance," he noted, explaining that glass panels were breached "with a disc cutter."

Le Parisien reported that "nine pieces from the jewelry collection of Napoleon and the Empress" were taken during the heist, with one item subsequently recovered outside the museum premises.

Investigation details reveal the thieves accessed the gallery from the Seine-facing facade, where construction was ongoing, using a mechanical lift. After cutting through windows with specialized tools, they swiftly removed nine jewelry pieces before making their escape.

The recovered jewelry item is believed to be Empress Eugenie's crown, which was damaged during the incident.

Paris Centre Mayor Ariel Weil expressed dismay to Le Parisien, stating: "It's a shock... This has been movie script material until now. It's difficult to imagine that it's seemingly so easy to burglarize the Louvre... The unexpected closure of the site is creating a significant public order problem."