In brief
Paris’ Louvre Museum has reopened its famed Gallery of Apollo, a space once home to the French crown jewels. Nine months after thieves stole jewels worth millions via a truck‑mounted ladder, the gallery is back in service but empty. Police have detained four suspects, yet no stolen pieces have been recovered. The museum now plans to display its precious gems in upgraded, secure areas. The incident raises new concerns about museum security worldwide.
The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened its iconic Gallery of Apollo on Wednesday, nine months after masked thieves stole millions of euros worth of jewelry. The space, once the residence of France’s crown jewels, is once again visible to the public, though the prized pieces are missing.
"This is an iconic space within the Louvre, but it will no longer house the Crown Jewels and gemstones, which are to be displayed in secure areas elsewhere in the museum," said the museum’s director, Christophe Leribault.
The robbery took place on 19 October when thieves used a truck with a set of mechanical ladders to gain access to the gallery via a balcony. Police have arrested four individuals now alleged to be the perpetrators, but the stolen items have yet to be recovered.
Authorities continue to investigate the heist, and the Paris police are offering rewards for anyone with information. The case has drawn international attention to museum security measures after the theft of high‑profile items.
Meanwhile, local and international visitors are once again welcomed into the Louvre’s celebrated spaces, hoping the gallery’s historic ambience can compensate for the loss of its most treasured artifacts.
