History is filled with some pretty brazen thefts, including the Great Train Robbery, the 2003 Antwerp diamond heist, and Colonel Thomas Blood attempting to steal the Crown Jewels in 1671. Now, the 2025 Louvre heist is sure to become one for the ages.
The world was shocked to learn about a jaw-dropping jewel heist on October 19, as thieves made off with some €88 million ($102 million) from the Galerie d'Apollon. Taking less than eight minutes, and with just four of those taking place in the actual museum, it was like something out of an Ocean's movie.
If you thought Labubu heists were the weirdest ones you'd read about in 2025, you ain't seen nothing yet.
Authorities have confirmed that two men, both around the age of 30, have been arrested in connection with the robbery, but according to one man, there could be more to the story.
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Speaking to CBS, Larry Lawton shared his own conspiracy theory about what he believes really happened at the famous French museum.
Now a motivational speaker and YouTuber, Lawton rose to fame after pulling off a series of jewel heists before being arrested in 1996. After spending 12 years in prison, he's seemingly turned his life around, although that doesn't stop him speculating about the Louvre.
While the Louvre holds some of the most valuable items in the world – like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo – they went straight to the Apollo Gallery as police explained: "After breaking windows, two men entered, stealing nine pieces from Napoleon and the Empress's jewelry collection – a necklace, a brooch, and more."
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Lawton says he now helps agencies with these kinds of robberies and that he's even recognized on the floor of the United States Congress. According to him, the thieves made a fatal mistake: "I personally would take this jewelry, I'd give two pieces to each guy, I would say 'put one away, maybe break one up for money'.
"Then, I would have one piece for a bargaining chip in case they get caught."
He then goes into conspiracy territory, adding: "I think it's an amateur job or inside job, and here's why.
"Here's my theory. Somebody knows somebody in the Louvre, whether it's a wife or girlfriend. She might be a tour guide...
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"How did these robbers know there wasn't an electronic device that can stop or shock you when you pull the jewelry off a felt? Plus, there were so many mistakes made."
Expanding on the workings of the heist where thieves used disc cutters and broke specific windows to gain access before they raced off on scooters, Lawton continued: "How did they know what window? How did they know it wasn't special glass you couldn't cut?
"They made all of these mistakes already, I don't think they had the robbery planned out like I would."
Even if not an inside job, it seems Lawton wasn't exactly impressed with those involved, calling out a lack of afterthought: "You have to have the fence [a middle man ] set up before you even do the robbery, you have to know you can get rid of something.
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"This is more amateur than it is professional for sure."
As the investigation continues, authorities have just seven days to track down the jewels before they'll likely be melted down and gone forever.