Five More Suspects Arrested In Connection With Louvre Jewellery Theft

The investigation into the Louvre jewellery heist continues to unfold, with Paris police arresting five more suspects on Wednesday night in connection with the theft. The arrests come after two men, who had previously been taken into custody, partially confessed to their involvement in the heist. Paris Public Prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed the new arrests, which include one "main" suspect. According to Beccuau, DNA evidence linked one of the newly arrested individuals to the crime scene, but further details on the suspects’ identities and how they may be linked to the theft have not yet been revealed.

The new suspects were detained in coordinated raids throughout Paris and its suburbs. Though no stolen goods were recovered during these operations, Beccuau said that investigators are still piecing together the full scope of the heist, which could involve more than just the individuals directly involved in the theft.

How did the theft happen?

On the morning of October 19, as tourists explored the Louvre, a group of thieves pulled off a meticulously planned robbery in broad daylight. Using a stolen vehicle-mounted lift, they broke into the museum’s Apollo Gallery, where they used power tools to crack open display cases containing 19th-century tiaras, necklaces, and other pieces once owned by the wives of French emperors Napoleon I and Napoleon III. From entering the Louvre to escaping, the entire heist lasted a mere seven minutes, and the thieves made their escape on scooters before switching to cars and vanishing into the Parisian streets.

“Still time” to return the jewels

Despite their quick getaway, the jewels, valued at a staggering €88 million ($102 million), remain missing. Authorities have launched a widespread search but have so far failed to recover the stolen items. “These jewels are now, of course, unsellable,” Beccuau urged in a statement. “Anyone who buys them would be guilty of concealment of stolen goods. It's still time to give them back.”

What about the men arrested earlier this week?

The two men arrested earlier this week were identified as a 34-year-old Algerian national who had been living in France for 15 years, and a 39-year-old man, both of whom had prior criminal records. The Algerian national was arrested on Saturday while attempting to flee the country on a flight to Algeria, and authorities discovered that his DNA was found on a scooter used during the escape, while the other’s DNA was traced to a display case. The 39-year-old suspect was arrested at his home on Saturday night.

Concerns over Louvre security

The theft has also raised serious questions about the Louvre’s security. French police have discovered weaknesses in the museum's aging surveillance systems, with reports suggesting that the museum’s authorization for security cameras had expired months before the heist. Police chief Patrice Faure pointed out that the first tip-off to authorities came from a cyclist who saw the robbers and called emergency services—rather than from the museum’s own security alarms.

The Louvre, in response to the incident, has taken steps to bolster security and has transferred its most valuable jewels to the Bank of France’s ultra-secure vaults. However, the museum's director, who has publicly acknowledged the failure of the security systems, submitted her resignation in the wake of the heist, though her resignation was not accepted.

With the stolen jewellery still missing and the investigation intensifying, the pressure is mounting for the authorities to bring those responsible to justice.