Armed robbers flee Paris De Beers store with goods worth hundreds of thousands

Armed robbers stole hundreds of thousands of euros’ worth of luxury goods from a De Beers jewellery store in an upscale district of the French capital before fleeing on motorcycles, Paris police said on Thursday.

The robbery took place around 11.15am in the 2nd arrondissement, police said.

A De Beers Group spokesperson confirmed the robbery at the company’s De Beers store on Rue de la Paix, near Place Vendôme, a hub of luxury jewellers.

The spokesperson said there were “no serious injuries”, that the company was providing well-being support and that the store would remain closed to allow investigations.

Fabien Bogais, a representative of the Alliance police union in Paris, told reporters at the scene that four suspects arrived carrying assault-style rifles and stole hundreds of thousands of euros worth of goods within minutes.

Police said the robbers displayed their weapons but did not use them.

Bogais said the robbers wore helmets but that he could not say whether they had covered their faces with clothing or balaclavas.

Authorities said substantial resources were being deployed to track down those responsible and that officers would examine the scene.

The robbery follows the October 2025 theft of crown jewels valued at €88 million (US$98 million) from the Louvre in a daylight raid that exposed gaps in the museum’s security.