The Seven-Minute Louvre Heist - a Robbery that Echoed “Lupin”
Updated: Nov 13, 2025
No, this is not the start of a new Netflix series. The Louvre got robbed on 19 October 2025, and the museum was closed right after. The crime happened in broad daylight, the operation started at 09:30 local time and the thieves broke into the museum through a window. Their methods can appear primitive, as criminals used a ladder to climb onto the balcony and cut through the glass with the help of simple power tools. To add to the comedy of the situation, in just over seven minutes, the robbers escaped on two scooters that waited for them outside.
It might be too late for the French police to recover the eight stolen pieces of jewellery, experts state. Valuable items might have been broken into smaller pieces and sold outside of France already, for a smaller value. One reason for dropping the crown from Empress Eugénie could be that it would be harder to dismantle, hence less likely to sell.
The crime that overtook the internet doesn’t come without its similarities to the famous, French Netflix show - “Lupin”. Here are some parallels between the recent heist and the iconic series:
The noble need for revenge
Assane, the main character of “Lupin”, plans his heist with the intention of settling an injustice. His father was falsely accused of stealing a necklace from the rich Pellegrini family and he hung himself in prison. When Assane spots the same exact necklace in a news programme, to avenge the death of his beloved father, he plans an elaborate heist. The necklace is to be sold to Louvre at an auction and Assane starts scheming to get in possession of the valuable item. His first move is employing himself as a janitor under a fake name.
Unlike the exaggerated, dramatic events of the show, the recent robbery appeared to be planned with an intent to make money. The group’s backstory remains unclear, but it seems that there was no deeper emotional reason behind the act. At first, there were speculations whether they were a part of an organised crime network. Four of them were directly involved in the act of stealing. However, it was recently revealed that the heist was work of mere "petty criminals" and that no professional criminals were involved.
A calculated plan
Both heists were carefully planned and executed. It’s crucial to take into account that a Netflix series may come up with elaborate and overcomplicated plots (replacing the necklace with a fake, fighting the guards and stealing their uniforms, crashing the roof of the famous Pyramide Inversée). In comparison, the raid on the Apollo Gallery played out in less exciting circumstances. It was simple but effective.
The escape and the aftermath of the heist
Assane’s escape from the museum was entertaining to watch and full of surprises. Extreme damage to the building, dramatic fights and Assane’s questioning by the investigators, who were forced to let him go because of no damning evidence.
Some of the recent Louvre robbers were captured and identified as amateur, Parisian suburb criminals. Their detention did not resemble the cinematic questioning from "Lupin" as one of them was captured before boarding a flight at Charles de Gaulle airport. Three of the four suspects are now under arrest. A 34-year-old Algerian man or a couple in their thirties have been confirmed to be directly involved with the heist.
There are obvious differences in the ways in which the two crimes played out, but if you were entranced by the recent robbery in Paris, don’t hesitate to watch “Lupin”. Louvre’s most recent break in proves that a heist doesn’t need to be elaborate and that a true criminal can thrive with few
tools and a creative and focused mind.