Louvre Robbery Photo Sparks Online Frenzy,Inspires ‘Inspector clouseau’ Comparisons
PARIS (AP) – A photograph taken in the aftermath of a recent robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris has ignited a wave of speculation online,with social media users playfully identifying a well-dressed passerby as a real-life counterpart to the bumbling yet stylish detective Inspector Clouseau from “The Pink panther” films. The image, captured by Associated Press photographer Thomas Camus on October 19, 2025, shows police blocking an entrance to the museum.
The online captivation stems from the man’s distinctive attire – a trench coat,jacket,tie,and fedora – which struck many as an anachronistic and cinematic addition to the scene. While the AP caption simply identified the photo as documenting the police response to a robbery,social media quickly filled in the gaps,with one user boasting 1.2 million followers claiming the man “looks like he stepped out of a 1940s detective noir film” and was a detective investigating the theft.
Camus, however, clarified that the man was simply a pedestrian walking away from the Louvre during the evacuation. “He appeared in front of me,I saw him,I took the photo,” Camus said. “It happened and it was gone.”
The Paris prosecutor’s office has playfully acknowledged the online buzz, responding to AP’s inquiries with, “we prefer to keep the mystery alive ;).” Authorities have not confirmed whether the man is connected to the ongoing inquiry into the jewel theft. The Louvre robbery remains under investigation, with more than 100 investigators reportedly involved in the search for the thieves.
