According to some labor organizations, the museum's security has been affected by staff reductions in recent years, as visitor numbers soared. Several French museums have recently been targeted by thefts.

Empress Eugénie's 2,000-diamond tiara and the necklace from the sapphire set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense, made up of eight sapphires and 631 diamonds, were among the items stolen by a gang of four thieves who entered through a window.

A prominent expert in recovering stolen works of art has told Sky News it was a matter of time before the Louvre was targeted - and UK museums could be next.

The objects taken were France’s royal jewels, formerly belonging to the Empress Eugénie, Napoleon III’s wife and arts patron

The Louvre Museum in Paris was burglarized on Sunday, October 19, 2025. Several imperial jewels were stolen from the Apollo Gallery, resulting in the museum's exceptional closure on Sunday and Monday, October 20.

This latest heist at the Louvre highlights the vulnerability of objects in public collections. The irony is they are often gifted to such institutions for safekeeping.

Several paintings have been stolen from the celebrated Parisian museum, including the Mona Lisa. Over the course of its history, it has steadily improved its security.

Louvre Museum robbery sparks investigation and raises security concerns for cultural tourism and visitor safety across Europe.