The Louvre secretly moved part of its jewelry collection to the Bank of France vaults after a major theft shocked the nation. French radio network RTL reported on Friday that the transfer took place under heavy police protection.
Officials discreetly relocated several pieces, including the “Crown Jewels” displayed in the Apollo Gallery and other items from across the museum. The Bank of France’s vault, located 27 meters below its Paris headquarters, stores 90% of the country’s gold reserves. The precaution followed last week’s high-profile robbery that exposed serious security flaws at the world’s most famous museum.
Thieves Execute Bold Daylight Robbery in Minutes
Last week, several thieves broke into the Louvre in broad daylight, targeting the Apollo Gallery. They used a basket lift to reach a balcony, forced open a window, and smashed display cases before fleeing on two-wheelers. The entire heist lasted only six to seven minutes.
Investigators estimate the stolen jewels are worth 88 million euros, though experts say their cultural value to France is far greater. Authorities continue to hunt for the suspects, who managed to escape despite tight surveillance around the museum district.
The robbery reignited debate about museum security and the government’s failure to address repeated warnings from staff about inadequate funding and protection systems.
Lawmakers Condemn Heist as National Embarrassment
The theft provoked outrage across France, with lawmakers calling it a “national humiliation.” Officials and citizens alike demanded immediate reforms to strengthen museum security. The Louvre, already under scrutiny for aging infrastructure, now faces pressure to modernize its alarm and monitoring systems.
Europe has seen a rise in museum thefts in recent years. In France alone, at least four major institutions have suffered robberies in the past few months. Cultural experts warn that without significant investment in security, priceless artifacts will remain vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.
The Louvre has not commented publicly on the investigation but continues cooperating closely with French police as the hunt for the stolen crown jewels intensifies.
