In a significant development regarding the Louvre crown jewels heist, five additional suspects were arrested overnight, bringing the total number of arrests to seven. The Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, confirmed this information on Thursday, highlighting the ongoing efforts to apprehend those involved in the brazen robbery that occurred in broad daylight on October 19.
The latest arrests were made during separate operations in Paris and the nearby Seine-Saint-Denis region. One of the individuals detained was identified through DNA evidence as a member of the four-person team that executed the theft at the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery. Beccuau stated that this suspect was “one of the objectives of the investigators — we had him in our sights.” Other detainees may provide insights into the heist, although their identities have not been disclosed.
The stolen items from the Louvre, valued at an astonishing $102 million, include a diamond-and-emerald necklace gifted by Napoleon Bonaparte to Empress Marie Louise, as well as crown jewels associated with 19th-century Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense, and Empress Eugénie’s pearl-and-diamond tiara. Despite the arrests, the loot remains undiscovered, prompting concern over the security measures in place to protect such invaluable treasures.
Following the daylight theft, French police have acknowledged significant gaps in the Louvre’s security protocols, leading to a national discussion about how France safeguards its cultural heritage. The Paris police chief revealed that the alarm was not triggered by the museum's security systems but rather by an observant cyclist who reported the incident after witnessing the theft unfold.
Two prior suspects, aged 34 and 39 from Aubervilliers, were charged with theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy after spending nearly 96 hours in custody. According to Beccuau, they provided minimal statements and only partially admitted to their roles in the crime. One suspect was apprehended at Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, attempting to flee to Algeria, with DNA evidence linking him to a scooter used during the getaway.
Currently, there is no indication of insider involvement from Louvre staff, although investigators have not dismissed the possibility of a broader network beyond the four thieves seen in the security footage. This footage captured the suspects breaking into the Apollo Gallery, using power tools to cut open display cases, and fleeing on scooters towards eastern Paris after a swift operation that lasted less than four minutes.
In light of the ongoing investigation, Beccuau reiterated her appeal to anyone in possession of the stolen jewels: “These jewels are now, of course, unsellable … Anyone who buys them would be guilty of concealment of stolen goods. There’s still time to give them back.” The legal framework in France protects the confidentiality of investigations, allowing only the prosecutor to disclose information publicly, which serves to protect the integrity of the police work and the rights of the victims.
The daylight robbery at the Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum, has sent shockwaves through the cultural heritage community. The transformation of the Apollo Gallery from a place of beauty to a crime scene, marked by the loss of Empress Eugénie’s damaged but salvageable crown, has raised urgent questions about the security of national treasures and the measures in place to prevent such incidents in the future.
