Arrests Made in Daytime Louvre Heist
Authorities in France have arrested five additional suspects linked to the bold robbery of crown jewels from the Louvre Museum. This announcement was made on Thursday, as investigators continue to search for the stolen treasures.
The arrests were executed in various locations around Paris and the nearby Seine-Saint-Denis area, according to prosecutor Laure Beccuau. The names of those arrested have not been disclosed yet.
Among the suspects is a man believed to be part of the four-member team that infiltrated the museum’s Apollo Gallery on October 19, making off with jewels worth an estimated 88 million euros (about $102 million) in under eight minutes. Beccuau confirmed that searches conducted during the night did not yield any of the missing items.
Louvre Heist Raises Security Concerns
The robbery, which adds to a list of high-profile museum thefts, has raised alarms for other galleries.
Two other suspects were apprehended on Sunday and have since been charged with theft and conspiracy. Beccuau shared that both have partially admitted their involvement in the theft.
One of the suspects, a 34-year-old Algerian man who has been in France since 2010, was arrested while attempting to flee to Algeria with a one-way ticket. He had a history with the police for minor offenses, and DNA evidence linked him to a scooter used during the escape.
Another suspect, a 39-year-old also from Aubervilliers, was arrested at his home. His DNA was found on a glass case that held the stolen jewels and on items left behind by the thieves.
Details of the Daring Robbery
The robbers used a lift to access the museum’s exterior, broke into a window, and employed cutting tools to open display cases in the Apollo Gallery. They escaped with eight historically significant pieces, including:
- A sapphire diadem, necklace, and earrings associated with Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.
- An emerald necklace and earrings that belonged to Empress Marie-Louise, the second wife of Napoleon.
- A reliquary brooch.
- Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and intricately designed corsage bow brooch.
Eugénie’s emerald-encrusted crown, which features over 1,300 diamonds, was found damaged but recoverable outside the museum.
Louvre Director Laurence des Cars has acknowledged a “terrible failure” in security, but Beccuau stated that there is no evidence suggesting the theft was orchestrated from within the museum.
In a plea to those possessing the missing jewels, Beccuau emphasized their historical value, warning that they are “unsellable” and urged for their return. She cautioned that anyone attempting to sell them would face legal consequences for concealing stolen property.
Authorities continue to investigate and hope to recover the priceless items soon.
