Thieves broke into Paris's Louvre museum through a window on Sunday, stealing "priceless" items of jewelry before escaping on motorbikes, the French government said.

The thieves struck at about 9.30 a.m. local time, when the museum had already opened its doors to the public, and entered the Galerie d'Apollon building, which is home to the French Crown Jewels, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

It did not say exactly what had been taken.

"The investigation has begun, and a detailed list of the stolen items is being compiled. Beyond their market value, these items have priceless heritage and historical value," the statement said.

No injuries were reported among the public, Louvre staff or law enforcement officers, it added.

A window believed to have been used in what the French

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