On October 19, 2025, thieves broke into the Louvre Museum's Apollo Gallery in Paris, using a cherry picker and an angle grinder to steal nine pieces of jewelry worth an estimated $102 million in under eight minutes. One piece was recovered outside the museum. Approximately 100 investigators are now analyzing DNA evidence found on a helmet and gloves at the scene, as well as video footage captured by a bystander showing two suspects escaping on scooters. The museum reopened the day after the heist, but the Apollo Gallery remains closed due to the ongoing investigation.
This heist has drawn intense scrutiny to the Louvre's security system, which museum staff had previously criticized as outdated and underfunded. A leaked audit described the security as “outdated,” and the lack of camera footage in the targeted gallery has raised serious questions about institutional priorities. The case highlights broader tensions between cultural heritage institutions and the need for modern security infrastructure, especially when high-value artworks and artifacts are at risk.