Museums are places where important art and treasures are kept safe for everyone to see. However, history shows that even the most famous museums are not always secure. Over the years, thieves have stolen priceless paintings, jewels, and artworks, often in bold and surprising ways.
Recently, this happened again at the Louvre Museum, one of the most visited museums in the world. On Sunday, October 19, 2025, thieves reportedly stole valuable jewellery from the museum, reminding people that museum thefts are not just stories from the past.
This article looks at some of the most well-known museum heists and explains how they happened.
A Recent Theft at the Louvre
On Sunday morning, October 19, 2025, a group of thieves allegedly stole nine pieces of jewellery from the Louvre. These items were part of the collection owned by Napoleon. The thieves used a basket lift to reach the museum and carried out the theft while visitors were already inside.
The jewellery was taken from the Apollo Gallery, where the French crown jewels are displayed. The theft happened about half an hour after the museum opened, with tourists nearby. This made the crime even more shocking.
Museum workers had earlier warned that too many visitors and not enough staff were putting pressure on security. This theft highlighted those concerns.
The Mona Lisa Theft That Shocked the World
The Louvre has seen famous thefts before. One of the most well-known cases happened in 1911, when the Mona Lisa was stolen.
Painted by Leonardo da Vinci, the Mona Lisa is now the most famous painting in the world. But before it was stolen, it was not widely known to the public.
The thief was Vincenzo Peruggia, a former museum worker. He hid inside the museum and walked out with the painting hidden under his coat. When the theft was discovered, newspapers around the world reported the story.
The painting was found two years later in Florence when Peruggia tried to sell it. This theft helped make the Mona Lisa famous across the globe.
The Painting That Was Stolen Again and Again
Another unusual case involves a painting by Rembrandt called Jacob de Gheyn III. This artwork has been stolen more times than almost any other famous painting.
It was taken from the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London four times in the years 1966, 1973, 1981, and 1983. Each time, the painting was found and returned to the museum.
Because of this, it earned the nickname “the takeaway Rembrandt.” Today, it is still on display.
The World’s Most Stolen Artwork
The artwork stolen the most times in history is the Ghent Altarpiece, also called The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. It was created by Jan van Eyck.
This artwork has been stolen seven times. It was taken by Napoleon’s army in 1794 and later stolen by the Nazis during World War II. Its history shows how art is often taken during wars and times of conflict.
America’s Biggest Art Theft
In 1990, one of the largest art thefts in history took place at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.
Late at night, two men dressed as police officers entered the museum, saying they were answering an emergency call. Once inside, they tied up two guards and spent over an hour stealing 13 artworks.
The stolen pieces included works by famous artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Degas, and Manet. One painting, Vermeer’s The Concert, was said to be worth up to $500 million.
Some paintings were cut out of their frames. Even today, the empty frames still hang in the museum. The case has never been solved.
The Van Gogh Museum Thefts
The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam has also been robbed more than once. In 2002, thieves used a ladder and heavy tools to break in and steal two paintings.
The artworks were missing for 14 years before Italian police found them in the hands of the Naples mafia. They were returned to the museum in 2016.
Earlier, in 1991, thieves stole 20 paintings worth over €400 million from the same museum. These paintings were found soon after in an abandoned car nearby.
The Dresden Green Vault Jewel Theft
In 2019, thieves broke into the Green Vault museum in Dresden, one of the oldest museums in the world. They smashed glass cases and stole royal jewels covered with diamonds.
The stolen jewellery was worth hundreds of millions of euros and was described as priceless. Some of the jewels were later recovered.
Five men were found guilty of the crime, while one man was cleared.
Why These Heists Matter
Museum thefts do more than take valuable objects. They show how difficult it is to protect art and history. Each major theft has pushed museums to improve security and rethink how treasures are displayed.
From famous paintings to royal jewels, these stories remind us that art is not only valuable but also vulnerable, and that protecting history is an ongoing challenge.
