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CrimeFrance

French authorities stunned after audacious Louvre theft

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October 20, 2025

Investigators in France are racing to locate and recover crown jewels snatched by thieves on Sunday. French lawmakers are calling the heist a national humiliation — and experts are warning that it may already be too late to recover the artifacts intact.

Four thieves pulled off a daring daylight heist at Paris's Louvre Museum, stealing eight priceless crown jewels from the Apollo Gallery in under seven minutes. The gang used a van with an extendable ladder, cut through armored glass, and posed as technicians to bypass security. Among the stolen items is an emerald necklace gifted by Napoleon. Officials admit major security lapses as police race to recover the jewels before they're dismantled.

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