This Netflix Thriller Beat Real Thieves To The Louvre In A Daring Jewelry Heist

One of the most startling bits of news this week was the daring heist pulled off by a group of thieves at the Louvre in Paris. Oddly enough, this isn’t the first jewelry theft at the Louvre. A popular Netflix series beat the thieves to the punch back in 2021. The Louvre Museum is one of the most popular and impressive museums in the world, with over 8.7 million visitors per year, and a cap of 30,000 visitors per day to manage overcrowding.

What Happened In The Daring Daylight Louvre Heist

On July 19, four thieves disguised in workman’s vests orchestrated a highly professional daylight break-in at the Louvre. They used a truck with a movable lift to reach the second-floor façade of the museum, breaking through a window and smashing the display cases in the Galerie d’Apollon, which houses the French Crown Jewels.

The entire operation took place in under 7 minutes, with the thieves escaping into the Parisian streets on motor scooters. All of this took place during business hours with thousands of visitors and numerous security guards in the museum.

What Was Stolen In The Louvre Heist

The jewels stolen were of “inestimable” value, including:

• A sapphire tiara, necklace and earring set once worn by Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.
• An emerald necklace and matching earrings from the set belonging to Empress Marie-Louise (second wife of Napoleon I).
• A tiara and brooch that belonged to Empress Eugénie (wife of Napoleon III).

In their rush to escape, the thieves dropped a crown studded with 1,354 diamonds, 1,136 rose-cut diamonds and 56 emeralds. They escaped with 8 other pieces of precious and historically valuable jewelry, none of which were insured.

A massive manhunt has begun, with investigators claiming that this is the work of organized crime, possibly commissioned by a nefarious collector. Just as likely, the jewelry will be broken down so that the gems can be sold individually and the gold melted. If it all sounds like something you’d watch in a movie or crime series, well you’re not wrong.

We Saw A Similar Louvre Jewelry Theft On Netflix In 2021

The very first episode of French Netflix crime series Lupin involves a similarly daring jewelry heist that takes place within the Louvre. The show, from creators George Kay and François Uzan stars Omar Sy as professional thief, Assane Diop. Assane takes inspiration from the adventures of master thief Arsène Lupin, a character created by Maurice Leblanc in the early 20th century.

Lupin was a major hit for Netflix, becoming its most-watched non-English series when it released in 2021, viewed by 76 million households in its first month on Netflix. Omar Sy’s performance received critical acclaim. Assane, who goes by the code-name Lupin, is the son of an immigrant from Senegal who was wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, and dies in his prison cell, leaving Assane to fend for himself.

The heist in question involves Assane’s desire for revenge against the wealthy Parisian family who framed his father 25 years earlier. Without spoiling too much, the episode revolves around an auction of a valuable diamond necklace taking place in the Louvre, all of which ties back to his father. He uses a false identity, Paul Sernine, during the auction which investigators later realize is an anagram of Arsène Lupin. It’s a fun, thrilling and emotional episode of television and a great start to one of the best shows on Netflix.

Lupin’s three seasons have an average 98% Rotten Tomatoes score and make for a great binge if you’re looking for something to watch. Check out my list of Netflix movies to watch this week as well if you’re looking for more excellent crime stories.

I visited the Louvre in 2017 and have been imagining this scene taking place while I was in the Galerie d’Apollon marvelling over these beautiful treasures. The Louvre was one of several museums I visited in Paris, and I was struck by the crowds. The Mona Lisa was surrounded by so many people that getting anywhere near it was impossible – but then, it’s one of the least impressive pieces in the sprawling museum.

If you ever go to Paris, my favorite museum by far was the Musée de l’Armée, or French military museum. That museum was founded in the aftermath of the French Revolution and is filled with thousands of weapons from every era, suits of armor, canons and military vehicles. It was also much less crowded than the Louvre. The first room I walked into was filled with suits of armor that belonged to old knights and kings, swords and shields and other Medieval weaponry. I was in awe. No other sight in Paris was as striking – but then, I’m a hopeless lover of all things Medieval history.

Lupin currently has three seasons available to stream on Netflix, with a long-awaited fourth set to debut in 2026. Meanwhile, life imitates art as we watch the events around the current Louvre theft play out just as dramatically as any film or TV show.

For more recommendations, check out the Top 10 Movies New To Netflix In October.