In a brazen daylight robbery, thieves armed with power tools targeted the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday, making off with some of France’s most valuable crown jewels. The audacious heist, which lasted a mere seven minutes, saw the culprits flee the scene, leaving behind a damaged 19th-century gem-encrusted crown near the museum. Authorities have launched a manhunt, but the perpetrators remain at large. The incident forced the immediate closure of the Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum, which houses iconic treasures such as the Mona Lisa. Armed soldiers patrolled the area around the museum’s glass pyramid entrance, while evacuated visitors and tourists were kept at bay behind police tape. Witnesses described the scene as reminiscent of a Hollywood movie. The robbers reportedly used a powered, extendable ladder—typically employed for moving furniture—to access the gilded gallery housing the crown jewels. The stolen crown, belonging to Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, is adorned with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that three or four thieves targeted two displays in the museum’s ‘Galerie d’Apollon,’ though the full extent of the stolen items remains unclear. The Louvre’s management stated that the closure was necessary to preserve evidence for the ongoing investigation. Experts fear the stolen jewels may be dismantled for their precious materials, as they would be ‘completely unsellable’ in their current state. This incident highlights a growing concern over museum security in France, following a series of high-profile thefts in recent months. French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to enhance the Louvre’s security as part of a broader renovation plan.