Napoleon's jewels stolen from Louvre in 7-minute heist

On October 19, 2025, four thieves posing as workers used a hoist truck and angle grinder to break into the Apollo Gallery at the Louvre, stealing Napoleon Bonaparte's jewels in seven minutes. They escaped on scooters but failed to set the hoist on fire. French President Macron condemned the theft as an attack on national heritage, vowing to recover the items and prosecute the culprits. Louvre director Laurence Des Cars admitted the museum's security infrastructure is obsolete and that staff failed to identify the thieves in time. Only two of four suspects have been arrested; eight jewels remain missing, except for Empress Maria-Eugenia's crown dropped during the escape. The heist sparked a wave of memes on social media, comparing the thieves to fictional characters like Lupin and Cat's Eyes, and mocking Louvre security. Marketing campaigns quickly emerged, including one by hoist manufacturer Böcker. The incident has political implications, with some investigators suspecting it was designed to undermine Macron ahead of presidential elections.