12 NOVEMBER, 2025

If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere. Overconfidence is usually how loss sneaks in

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Paris museum heist: If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere

If you’ve ever thought, “Nothing like that could happen to us,” the Louvre heist is a reminder that overconfidence is usually how loss sneaks in. The world’s largest and most visited museum—home to extraordinary cultural treasures—was breached in minutes. If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere.

In insurance, we see this pattern often: the moment you assume you’re secure is the moment a weakness reveals itself.

The 2025 Paris heist – a wake-up call for everyone

On 19 October 2025, just after the Louvre opened for the morning, four men arrived in a stolen lift-equipped truck wearing maintenance-style uniforms. At around 9.30am, they positioned the vehicle on the Seine-facing side of the museum, directly below the Apollo Gallery, where remnants of the French Crown Jewels were on display.

Two of the men rode the basket lift to a balcony window, smashed the glass, and entered the gallery. The alarm sounded, but within minutes they had forced open display cases and removed eight historic jewellery items, including pieces belonging to Empress Eugénie.

In their escape, they dropped Eugénie’s crown outside the museum—French police later recovered it. The thieves then fled with accomplices waiting outside.

The entire heist was over in under seven minutes, from entry to departure.

Later that morning, France’s Culture Minister confirmed the robbery publicly.

The Louvre reopened on 22 October, although the Apollo Gallery stayed closed as investigations continued.

By early November, four suspects had been charged. Prosecutors described them as “petty criminals”, not professional art thieves. One suspect remains at large, and investigators believe more people may have been involved.

The stolen jewels are still missing. None of the sources confirm their monetary value.

France’s national museums self-insure

Public museums in France, including the Louvre, typically self-insure their collections. This means there is no insurance policy to claim against following the theft.

The loss is therefore absolute: the museum does not receive financial compensation, and the stolen items - of immense cultural significance - are irreplaceable.

You’re fortunate — you can insure

Self-insurance only works if you can absorb a total loss. Most organisations cannot.

Unlike priceless cultural items, your assets:

• can be valued
• can be replaced
• can be insured at sustainable premiums

And unlike the Louvre, most organisations face risks that can be quantified and transferred. When you maintain proper safety standards and meet your insurer’s requirements, insurance becomes a vital buffer against the financial shock of a major loss.

Don’t let this happen to you

The Louvre’s experience shows how quickly a breach can happen, even at institutions assumed to be impregnable.

Don’t let familiarity or confidence lower your guard.

Assess your security honestly.

Close the gaps.

Strengthen your protection.

And ensure your insurance truly reflects the risks you face.

AA can help you prepare long before a loss has a chance to slip through.