$102 Million Louvre Jewel Heist: Paris Police Detain Four More Suspects in Daring Museum Robbery
The investigation into the spectacular $102 million jewel heist at the Louvre Museum in October has seen a significant breakthrough, following an announcement from the Paris prosecutor. On Tuesday, authorities confirmed the arrest of four additional individuals suspected of involvement in the stunning robbery.
The four individuals taken into custody include two men and two women. All four suspects are residents of the Paris region. Their ages reportedly range from 31 to 40 years old.
The Ongoing Investigation
The prosecutor leading the investigation, Laure Beccuau, confirmed the arrests. However, her statement did not immediately specify the exact roles the four newly detained individuals are suspected of having played in the October 19th theft. Under French law, police are permitted to hold the suspects for questioning for up to 96 hours.
French media outlets have indicated that one of the arrested men, a 39-year-old who was already known to police services, is believed to be the fourth core member of the “commando” team that executed the daylight robbery. This suspect is reportedly from Aubervilliers, a suburb located north of Paris, an area with which other previously arrested suspects have connections.
Prior to this announcement, the investigation had already led to preliminary charges against three other alleged members of the “commando” group. These individuals face charges including theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy. Furthermore, DNA evidence linking these suspects to the crime—found either at the scene or on items connected to the robbery—has been collected. An additional woman was arrested in October and is accused of complicity in the crime.
Details of the Daring Heist
The brazen robbery, which has critically focused attention on security measures at the Louvre—the world’s most-visited museum—was carried out with remarkable speed and precision. The thieves spent less than eight minutes inside the museum to execute the entire operation, from forced entry to exit.
Their method involved using a freight lift to access the building’s window. Museum camera footage revealed that two members of the group successfully broke into the ornate Apollo Gallery. Once inside, they used disc cutters to breach the jewelry display cases and quickly made off with the immense trove of valuables. They were then whisked away from the scene by two riders waiting on scooters.
The Stolen and Recovered Jewels
Despite the recent arrests, the vast majority of the loot has not yet been recovered. The stolen collection is worth an estimated $102 million and includes several priceless pieces of French imperial history.
Among the jewels that remain missing are:
- A diamond-and-emerald necklace originally presented by Napoleon to Empress Marie-Louise.
- Jewels historically connected to 19th-century Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.
- Empress Eugénie’s pearl-and-diamond tiara.
However, not all items were lost. The emerald-set imperial crown of Napoleon III’s wife, Empress Eugénie, which features more than 1,300 diamonds, was later found discarded outside the museum premises.
The successful execution of this crime has placed a spotlight on the measures in place to protect the treasures held within the Louvre, highlighting the need for vigilance even in the world’s most renowned cultural institutions.
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