Introduction to the Heist
Indiana couple Jacob and Holly Barker were eager to visit the Louvre on their recent trip to Paris. In an effort to avoid crowds, the Barkers had booked one of the first ticketed times of the day for Sunday, Oct. 19.
Little did they know they’d be present for the shocking, audacious robbery that unfolded that morning in broad daylight.
During a heist that lasted only seven minutes, four thieves stole nine priceless items from the Louvre’s Galerie d’Apollon. The thieves, who entered the museum through a window, escaped on motorbikes and remain at large.
The Experience of the Tourists
Speaking to TODAY, Jacob and Holly Barker describe what was going through their heads that morning — and when things turned "terrifying."
After visiting the Mona Lisa, the couple meandered to the Galerie d’Apollon, the ornate, gilded room that was the inspiration for the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, and the home of the French crown jewels.
Jacob Barker said the gallery was a "priority" for him. He first heard about the room on "The Earful Tower" podcast, which described it as an "overlooked room" and a "miniature Versailles."
Americans Jacob and Holly Barker were visiting the Louvre when thieves broke in to steal the French royal jewels. (Courtesy Jacob and Holly Barker)
Once in the gallery, the Barkers wandered off to admire different items. Then, they heard “banging" and something that “sounded like construction,” Jacob Barker recalled.
The Chaos and Fear
The banging was “alarming enough” — but the couple knew something was truly wrong when they heard a “high pitched, piercing sound” that seemed like it could be a “steel circular saw running against glass,” he said.
“It was terrifying. I mean, it’s just like the movies. So we knew at that point we needed to take action,” Jacob Barker continued. "We didn’t know if there was one chainsaw-wielding robber behind that window, or if there were 100 mass terrorists, but we knew that we didn’t want to stick around to find out."
Holly Barker said a museum employee then instructed the approximately 25 people in the room to "run." What came next was "controlled chaos," Jacob Barker said.
Americans Jacob and Holly Barker were visiting the Louvre when thieves broke in to steal the French royal jewels. (Courtesy Jacob and Holly Barker)
Aftermath and Response
"It’s the Louvre, after all. I mean, if you walk too fast, they’ll instruct you to move slower,” he said.
When they made their way to another room, the couple wasn’t sure how to proceed. Jacob Barker thought the situation would "blow over" and might just be a protest, so he was keen on staying where they were so they didn’t miss out on the entire museum visit. Still, he was also a bit alarmed.
"In the back of my head, I’m thinking it also could be a mass shooting situation or a terrorist attack. But again, there was this controlled chaos where no one was giving us any instruction," he said.
Leaving the Museum
Holly Barker, on the other hand, was eager to leave the museum entirely.
“I wanted out. I’m a school teacher, and it felt like some sort of real active shooter situation without the gunshots,” she said.
Packed into the lobby with hundreds of other tourists, the couple awaited further instruction from the museum staff.
"They were communicating to us that we were not in any danger. And in fact, they told us to go explore a whole other wing," Holly Barker said.
Soon, the couple saw members of the National Police in the building. Outside of the building, the "police presence was insane," according to Holly Barker.
Conclusion
The couple ended up leaving the museum around 11 a.m. and learned from other tourists that a robbery had caused all the chaos.
Now back in the U.S., the Barkers are still processing what happened.
“I mean, it’s crazy in my mind that we were there. We were in the room. The one saying I kept thinking, ‘Of all the gin joints in all the world,’ like we were in that room at that moment. What are the odds of that?” Holly Barker said.
The couple hopes authorities catch the thieves, who made off with items like sapphire and emerald necklaces, earrings and tiaras.
"Once those jewels are returned, we’ll be on the first flight back," Jacob Barker said.
FAQs
Q: What happened at the Louvre on Sunday, Oct. 19?
A: Four thieves stole nine priceless items from the Louvre’s Galerie d’Apollon in a heist that lasted only seven minutes.
Q: How did the thieves enter the museum?
A: The thieves entered the museum through a window and escaped on motorbikes.
Q: What was the experience of the tourists during the heist?
A: The tourists, including Jacob and Holly Barker, described the experience as "terrifying" and like something out of a movie.
Q: What items were stolen during the heist?
A: The thieves made off with items like sapphire and emerald necklaces, earrings and tiaras.
