The shocking robbery at France's Louvre last October has come to light with newly released surveillance footage, showing thieves smashing the glass of display cabinets and stealing precious jewels right in front of two security guards. Four more guards stood a few meters behind, but none intervened, allowing the robbers to calmly steal rare crowns and jewelry within four minutes.
A French investigative program revealed the footage on the 18th.
Around 9:30 a.m. on October 19, 2025, cameras in the Louvre's Apollo Gallery captured two thieves breaking in through a ground-floor window. The footage shows the first thief wearing a high-visibility vest and the second with a motorcycle helmet. They then proceed toward cabinets displaying French royal jewelry. Both are equipped with cutting tools, which they use to break open two display cases within minutes. One thief stole Empress Eugénie's tiara, while the other took sets of jewels belonging to Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen of Orléans.
At the time, several security guards, just a few meters away, seemed to hesitate about how to respond. When the two thieves arrived, one guard made a phone call and another picked up a stanchion, taking a few steps toward the thieves but making no further moves. Surveillance then shows the robbers leaving through the same window.