The 1911 Louvre Jewel Theft
In 1911, several high-value jewels were taken from display cases in the Louvre museum in Paris. The theft focused on prominent gemstones and historic ornaments stored in the Crown Jewels exhibition, drawing global attention to museum security.
Who Was Arrested and Charged
Police quickly focused on Louvre employee Vincenzo Peruggia, who had helped install the glass cases. He was arrested after trying to sell the items through an art dealer. Authorities recovered most of the stolen jewels, and the case became a landmark example of insider theft in cultural institutions.
How the Stolen Jewels Were Recovered
Investigators traced communications and sales attempts that led back to Peruggia and his contacts. The recovery relied on surveillance of the art market and cooperation between French police and dealers. The incident prompted stricter access controls and inventory procedures at the Louvre and other major museums.
For more details on the investigation and recovery, see the official record at https://www.louvre.fr/en/visit/practical-information.
