Louvre closes after thieves strike in brazen jewel heist

THIEVES used a basket lift to reach the Louvre yesterday morning and, as tourists were already inside, forced a window, smashed display cases and fled with jewels of “inestimable value”, France's interior minister said.

- THOMAS ADAMSON

The world’s most-visited museum closed for the day as police sealed gates and ushered visitors out during an investigation into the brazen, seven-minute strike.

“A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre museum,” culture minister Rachida Dati wrote on social media.

The museum cited “exceptional reasons” for the closure. No injuries were reported.

Around 9.30am, several intruders forced open a window, stole jewels from display cases and escaped on two-wheelers, according to the interior ministry. It said forensic work was under way and that a precise inventory of the stolen objects was being compiled, adding that the items had “inestimable” historical value.

Ms Dati and Mr Nunez were on site with museum leadership.