A timeline of the jewel heist at the Louvre in Paris
**Paris Crown Jewels Heist: First Suspects Arrested Following Louvre Theft**
Paris prosecutors announced on Sunday the first arrests in connection with the daring theft of crown jewels from the Louvre, which occurred a week earlier at the world’s most visited museum. The arrests took place on Saturday evening, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation.
### Timeline of Events
**October 10**
Thieves used a false pretext to steal a basket lift truck. According to Paris prosecutor Laurence Beccuau, the suspects made an appointment with the company that owned the truck before leaving with it, employing threats but no violence. The company subsequently filed a theft complaint in the town of Louvres, located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Paris—a coincidence that has sparked some curiosity due to the name similarity.
**October 19**
– **9:00 a.m.:** The Louvre Museum opens to visitors.
– **9:30 a.m.:** Two thieves, disguised as renovation workers, parked the stolen truck—equipped with a freight lift—on the sidewalk at the foot of the Louvre, on Quai François Mitterrand, alongside the Seine River. They placed traffic cones around the vehicle to simulate a maintenance operation. The pair then climbed a ladder to reach a balcony and entered the museum through a window.
– **9:34 a.m.:** The intruders entered the south end of the Apollo Gallery. Their movement triggered an alarm in the security control room. Staff immediately radioed the command center to alert them of the break-in.
– **9:35 a.m.:** The robbers used disc cutters to neatly cut the glass on two display cases, grabbing the crown jewels within. Security officers began evacuating visitors, prioritizing crowd safety. The museum manager called the nearby police station to report the theft and requested urgent assistance.
– **9:36 a.m.:** A command center team leader activated a special alarm button linked directly to Paris police headquarters.
– **9:37 a.m.:** A message was sent to museum staff ordering the closure of all doors.
– **9:38 a.m.:** The thieves abandoned a yellow jacket—similar to those commonly worn by construction workers—as well as equipment including a disc cutter. Culture Minister Rachida Dati later revealed that security officers prevented one thief from setting fire to the freight lift truck.
– **10:34 a.m.:** Minister Dati announced on social media, “A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum.”
Later that day, the emerald-set imperial crown belonging to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, was found just outside the museum. The crown is adorned with more than 1,300 diamonds. However, the thieves escaped with eight other priceless objects of historic significance.
**October 22**
The Louvre reopened to the public. Prosecutor Beccuau stated that around 100 investigators were assigned to the case, including forensic experts analyzing surveillance footage and more than 150 samples collected from the basket lift, inside the museum, and on items recovered.
**October 26**
Beccuau announced the arrests made Saturday evening, adding that one of the suspects had been preparing to leave the country from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. While she did not confirm whether any of the stolen jewels have been recovered, she noted that officers from a specialized police unit responsible for armed robberies, serious burglaries, and art thefts conducted the arrests.
The investigation continues as authorities work to recover the crown jewels and bring all those responsible to justice.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/26/louvre-jewel-heist-timeline/
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