New surveillance video shows Louvre jewel heist in action

CBS News • January 19, 2026 • general

Key Points:

Surveillance footage of the October robbery at the Louvre Museum was broadcast on French TV, showing two thieves breaking into the Apollo Gallery and stealing nine pieces of jewelry.
The burglars entered through a reinforced window using high-powered disk cutters and operated under the watch of staff who did not intervene, as employees are trained to prioritize visitor evacuation over confrontation.
Security audits revealed significant gaps, with 35% of rooms in the Denon Wing lacking camera coverage, and the stolen jewels were not privately insured, raising concerns about museum management and security protocols.
Four suspects are in custody, but the eight missing French crown jewels, valued at approximately $102 million, remain unrecovered; DNA evidence and the footage are central to the ongoing investigation.