STORY: French newspapers reported on the robbery of Paris’ Louvre museum on Monday (October 20) morning, with one calling it the “heist of the century.”

Thieves in balaclavas broke into the museum on Sunday (October 19), using a crane to smash an upstairs window, then stealing priceless objects from an area that houses the French crown jewels before escaping on motorbikes, officials said.

The robbery raises awkward questions about security at the museum, where officials had already sounded the alarm about lack of investment at a world-famous site, home to artworks such as the Mona Lisa, that welcomed 8.7 million visitors in 2024.

The robbery took between six to seven minutes and was carried out by four people who were unarmed, but who threatened the guards with angle grinders, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said on BFMTV.

A total of nine objects were targeted by the criminals, and eight were actually stolen, she said.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: FRENCH NEWSPAPERS WITH FRONT PAGES ON LOUVRE ROBBERY / LOUVRE PYRAMID AND DAMAGED WINDOW THROUGH WHICH THIEVES WERE SUSPECTED TO BREAK IN

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 20, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. FRENCH NEWSPAPERS WITH FRONT PAGE HEADLINES ON LOUVRE ROBBERY

2. VARIOUS OF FRONT PAGE OF “LE PARISIEN” NEWSPAPER READING (French): “The Louvre robbed in daylight – The heist of the century”

3. VARIOUS OF FRONT PAGE OF “LES ECHOS” NEWSPAPER READING (French): “Priceless jewels stolen from the Louvre”

4. VARIOUS OF “LIBERATION” NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGE WITH HEADLINE READING (French): “Louvre robbery – Seven minutes for eight jewels”

5. VARIOUS OF “LE FIGARO” NEWSPAPER READING (French): “The Louvre Museum target of an incredible robbery of jewels”

6. LOUVRE PYRAMID ON DAY AFTER ROBBERY

7. VISITORS QUEUING IN FRONT OF PYRAMID

8. VARIOUS OF LOUVRE WINDOW THROUGH WHICH THIEVES WERE SUSPECTED TO BREAK IN