In a bold heist reminiscent of a movie plot, the Louvre Museum in Paris fell victim to a theft of priceless jewelry. Authorities speculate that the daring thieves might have been hired by a private collector, marking one of the most audacious museum robberies in recent history.

Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau revealed to local media that investigators suspect the robbers, who executed the theft in merely seven minutes during daylight hours on Sunday, might have been acting on behalf of a collector or were simply driven by the jewels’ immense value, as reported by Reuters.

“We’re considering the possibility of organized crime involvement,” Beccuau stated to BFM TV, suggesting that the perpetrators could be seasoned professionals working on commission for a buyer.

Beccuau also noted that if a collector orchestrated the heist, there is optimism that the stolen artifacts will remain whole and preserved until they can be recovered. However, if the thieves were acting independently, it is possible they targeted the jewelry for its utility in money laundering activities.

Following the incident, police officers were seen stationed near the iconic pyramid of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, on October 19, 2025. (Photo: Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes)

“These days, nearly anything can be tied to drug trafficking, given the vast financial resources generated from such illegal activities,” Beccuau remarked, according to Reuters.

Investigators are keeping all leads open, but foreign interference has reportedly been largely ruled out in the case.

Former jewel thief Larry Lawton, who now assists police on such investigations, told Fox News that the operation “had to be an inside job” or the thieves must have “had inside information.”

“How did they know how thick the glass was, whether there was an alarm on there?” Lawton asked. 

Lawton added that if he were the thieves, he would not immediately sell the items to avoid detection.

“I might put them and stash them somewhere no one knows, wait a year or two,” Lawton said, adding that companies would eventually give out a reward “with no questions asked.” 

“They’ll put up a million dollars for this … obviously they want their jewels back,” he said.

The Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum, announced it would remain closed on Monday following Sunday’s daring theft.

Masked thieves disguised as construction workers struck in front of visitors and staff Sunday morning, a period described as one of the museum’s most chaotic, authorities said. Officials said thieves extended a basket lift to a window and smashed it open with an angle grinder. They reportedly used a disc cutter to slice through glass panes protecting the jewels. 

Thieves executed a daytime heist at the Louvre Museum, stealing French crown jewels. (Thibault Camus : AP)

A total of nine objects were targeted, eight of which were stolen, officials said. The thieves failed to take the ninth item, the crown of Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugenie, during their escape. 

The crown alone is worth tens of millions of euros, though experts say it is not the most significant piece.

Authorities have not yet identified the robbers, who made their escape on motorbikes.