George Clooney‘s tipping his cap to the robbers who shook down the Louvre in Paris … showing respect from one professional thief to another.

The actor spoke to Variety at AFI Fest earlier this week … and, the he talked about the thieves who pulled a fast one on the iconic French museum — with Clooney even expressing a joking pride.

Clooney said, “If you’re a professional thief like I am, I was very proud of those guys.”

George, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and the whole crew are getting back together for another daring onscreen heist — and George also said  they should consider robbing the Louvre since everyone else seems to be doing it.

ICYMI … the Louvre closed after a major heist last weekend that led to thieves walking away with 9 pieces from the jewelry collection of Napoleon and Empress Eugénie — a loot of inestimable value. Eugénie’s crown was found broken outside the museum.

Video later came out showing a robber sawing through a glass case in the museum, and the museum’s director — Laurence des Cars — offered to resign in the aftermath … though the offer was ultimately rejected.