The Louvre Heist refers to the theft of several valuable artworks from the Louvre Museum in Paris, which occurred in 1911. The most famous piece stolen was the Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci. The thief, Vincenzo Peruggia, believed the painting belonged in Italy and hid it for over two years. Peruggia was eventually caught in 1913 when he attempted to sell the Mona Lisa to an art dealer in Florence. The heist garnered significant media attention and highlighted vulnerabilities in museum security. The painting was returned to the Louvre, where it remains one of the most visited artworks today.