French authorities have made additional arrests in connection with the theft of crown jewels from the Louvre Museum, but the precious treasures are still missing, as confirmed by the Paris prosecutor on Thursday.
The recent arrests of five individuals took place during separate police operations in Paris and nearby regions, including Seine-Saint-Denis, according to Prosecutor Laure Beccuau who disclosed this information on RTL radio. The identities of the arrested individuals have not been revealed, nor have any further details been provided.
Among the detainees, one is suspected of being involved in the robbery of the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery by a four-person team on October 19, which occurred in broad daylight, the prosecutor stated. Earlier, two members of the same group were apprehended on Sunday and subsequently charged on Wednesday with criminal conspiracy and theft committed by an organized gang. These suspects have reportedly admitted partial involvement in the crime.
Despite searches conducted recently, the stolen jewels worth 88 million euros ($102 million) have not been recovered, Beccuau mentioned.
The audacious heist, during which the robbers snatched eight pieces of the French crown jewels in less than eight minutes by breaking into cases with power tools after forcing open a window, has stunned the global audience. The incident has shed light on significant security vulnerabilities at the Louvre, prompting a national debate in France about safeguarding its cultural heritage.
One of the accused is a 34-year-old Algerian national residing in France since 2010, revealed Beccuau. He was apprehended at Charles de Gaulle airport while attempting to board a flight to Algeria without a return ticket. Located in Aubervilliers, a suburb north of Paris, the suspect was primarily known to law enforcement for traffic violations. His DNA was detected on one of the scooters used by the robbers during their escape.
The second suspect, aged 39, was arrested at his residence in Aubervilliers. With a history of multiple thefts known to the police, his DNA was found on one of the glass cases from which the jewels were taken and on items left behind by the perpetrators.
Surveillance footage indicates the involvement of at least four individuals in the theft scheme, Beccuau disclosed. The suspects arrived in a truck with a freight lift, enabling two of them to access the museum through a window. Subsequently, they departed on two motor scooters along the Seine River towards eastern Paris, where additional vehicles were parked.
Beccuau emphasized that there is no evidence suggesting inside collaboration from museum staff in the heist.
In an appeal made on Wednesday, Beccuau urged anyone in possession of the stolen jewels to return them, highlighting that the items are now unsellable. Purchasing these stolen goods would constitute a criminal offense of concealing stolen property, she warned.
French law prohibits the dissemination of investigative details to safeguard police operations and victims’ privacy. Only the prosecutor is authorized to provide public statements regarding case developments, and any breaches may lead to prosecution. While confidentiality is essential in investigations, leaks of partial information sometimes occur in high-profile cases.