PARIS — The Louvre Museum, the world's largest and most visited museum, was closed on Sunday following a daring jewel heist that occurred shortly after opening. Thieves used a basket lift to access the museum and broke in through a window around 9:30 a.m. local time. They smashed display cases and stole several items of significant historical and cultural value, according to French officials. French Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed the robbery on social media, stating, "A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum." The museum cited "exceptional reasons" for its closure, which is expected to last throughout the day as police conduct their investigation. No injuries were reported during the incident. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the heist as a "major robbery" and noted that the thieves executed their plan in just seven minutes. They reportedly used a disc cutter to break the glass and escaped on scooters with at least nine stolen items. The specific items taken are still being cataloged, but they are believed to have immense historical and patrimonial value. The theft occurred in the Galerie d’Apollon, which houses part of the French Crown Jewels. Reports indicate that the thieves entered through the Seine-facing facade, where construction was underway, and used a freight elevator to reach the gallery. One of the stolen jewels, believed to be Empress Eugénie’s crown, was later found outside the museum, albeit damaged. Dati and Nuñez were present at the scene, overseeing the response as police evacuated visitors and sealed off the museum. Video footage showed confused tourists being ushered out as officers closed nearby streets along the Seine River. The Louvre has a history of thefts, with the most notable being the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa. The museum is home to over 33,000 works of art, including masterpieces from various historical periods. It attracts nearly nine million visitors annually, with daily attendance reaching up to 30,000. Security measures at the Louvre have been a topic of concern, especially following previous incidents of theft in other European museums. The museum has been working on a modernization plan to improve security and visitor management, but it remains unclear if staffing levels contributed to the success of this latest heist. As the investigation continues, the Louvre remains closed, and authorities are focused on gathering evidence and determining the full extent of the theft.