In just seven minutes, four masked thieves executed a daring robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday. They stole eight pieces of jewelry valued at $102 million, prompting a national outcry and a widespread manhunt. The swift heist has left investigators puzzled about how such a secure location could be breached so quickly.

**9:30 a.m.: Arrival at the Louvre** A truck equipped with an extendable ladder arrived at the museum's Seine-facing side. The thieves used the ladder to access a second-floor balcony, entering the museum shortly after it opened to the public.

**9:34 a.m.: Break-in and Theft** Two of the thieves, disguised as construction workers, climbed the ladder and employed an angle grinder to cut through a window in the Apollo Gallery, located near the famous "Mona Lisa." They smashed two display cases and seized eight pieces of jewelry that belonged to Emperor Napoleon and his wife.

**9:37 a.m.: Alarm Triggered** The museum's alarm system activated, alerting staff and authorities to the ongoing theft.

**9:38 a.m.: Escape** Less than four minutes after entering, the thieves fled the scene. They descended the ladder and escaped on two motorbikes, heading southeast toward the A6 highway and the city of Lyon. During their escape, they dropped one of the stolen items, the crown of Empress Eugénie, which is adorned with over a thousand diamonds. Although the crown was recovered, it sustained damage, as confirmed by French Culture Minister Rachida Dati.

**Aftermath** Police arrived shortly after the theft and discovered two angle grinders, a blowtorch, gasoline, gloves, a walkie-talkie, a blanket, and the damaged crown at the scene. They also found a yellow vest, which appeared to have been discarded by one of the fleeing suspects, at the corner of Pont de Sully and Avenue Henri IV, several blocks from the museum.

**10:34 a.m.: Public Announcement** Minister Dati announced on social media, "A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the @MuseeLouvre. No injuries to report. I am on site alongside the museum teams and the police. Investigations underway."

**10:37 a.m.: Museum Closure** The Louvre officially announced its closure for the day, citing "exceptional reasons." The museum has remained closed to the public since the incident, as investigations continue into the theft and the identities of the perpetrators.