Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 25, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleAfter a $102 million heist, the Louvre transferred jewels to the Bank of France, highlighting security issues at the museum.
PARIS (Reuters) -The Louvre has transferred some of its most precious jewels to the Bank of France, according to French radio RTL, after an audacious daylight heist last week exposed the famed museum's security vulnerability.
The transfer of some precious items from the museum's Apollo gallery, home to the French crown jewels, was carried out on Friday under secret police escort, RTL said, citing unnamed sources.
The Bank of France, which stores the country's gold reserves in a massive vault 27 meters (88 feet) below ground, is just 500 meters away from the Louvre, on the Right Bank of the River Seine.
The Louvre and the Bank of France did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The thieves stole eight precious pieces worth an estimated $102 million from the Louvre's collection on October 19, exposing security lapses as they broke into the world's most-visited museum using a crane to smash an upstairs window during opening hours. They escaped on motorbikes.
News of the robbery reverberated around the world, prompting soul-searching in France over what some viewed as a national humiliation.
(Reporting by Alessandro Parodi; editing by Michel Rose and Mark Heinrich)
A heist is a robbery or theft, typically involving the stealing of valuable items or money, often executed with planning and precision.
Security vulnerability refers to a weakness in a system or process that can be exploited by threats to gain unauthorized access or cause harm.
The Bank of France is the central bank of France, responsible for managing the country's monetary policy, issuing currency, and ensuring financial stability.
Crown jewels are the ceremonial treasures, often including crowns, scepters, and other regalia, that belong to a monarchy and symbolize royal authority.
A police escort is a service provided by law enforcement to accompany and protect individuals or valuable items during transport.
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