Visitors were asked to leave Paris Louvre after reports of a robbery at the museum. Video Credit: Monica Louvre Museum Guided Tour/ @LouvreGuide via X

One of the most infamous heists in the cultural institution’s history was the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa—when Pablo Picasso numbered among the suspects.

(WMTW) - Paris’s Louvre museum is now closed after a major robbery of priceless jewelry and according to our Portland media partner, 29 Mainers saw it unfold. France’s interior minister told radio station France Inter the suspects stole jewelry from the room that houses the french crown jewels.

Paris' iconic Louvre Museum was forced to shut down on Sunday, October 19, after a group of chainsaw-wielding robbers made off with millions of dollars of priceless jewelry. A group of four suspects were reportedly wearing masks and hoods when they entered the most-visited museum in the world on

The iconic Louvre museum has been forced to close after a gang of power tool wielding thieves launched a brazen daylight heist, making off with priceless jewellery.

Several pieces of jewelry belonging to Napoleon and Empress Eugenie had been stolen, according to Le Parisien. The empress’ crown, made of 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, had been stolen but was found damaged near the museum, the newspaper said.