The dragnet for the culprits in the bold, daylight robbery of the Louvre crown jewels is rapidly expanding. Parisian authorities confirmed on Thursday that five more individuals were arrested overnight.
This latest operation included the detention of a man whose DNA matches one of the suspected robbers.
The combined, late-night raids took place across Paris and the nearby region of Seine-Saint-Denis. These actions bring the total number of arrests to seven.
DNA Links Suspect to Four-Man Crew
Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau provided updates on the probe. She confirmed that one of the recently detained men is suspected of being part of the four-person team. This group carried out the robbery in the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery on October 19.
The DNA-linked individual had been a primary target for investigators. Other people taken into custody, she noted, “may be able to inform us about how the events unfolded.” Authorities did not immediately release details regarding their identities.
The Missing Loot and Security Failures
Despite the accelerating arrests, the precious stolen loot remains missing. The pieces are valued at $102 million. The missing artifacts include:
- A diamond-and-emerald necklace gifted by Napoleon Bonaparte.
- Crown jewels tied to 19th-century Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.
- Empress Eugénie’s pearl-and-diamond tiara.
The dazzling theft has sparked a national debate over the protection of France’s heritage. The Paris police chief admitted significant security lapses.
The first alarm came from an external cyclist. He phoned police after seeing helmeted men using a freight lift outside.
Getaway Details and ‘Minimalist’ Confessions
Two earlier suspects were previously detained. They were men aged 34 and 39 from Aubervilliers. They were formally charged Wednesday with theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy.
One man was apprehended at Charles-de-Gaulle Airport. He was holding a one-way ticket to Algeria. His DNA matched a scooter used during the getaway. The charged suspects provided “minimalist” statements. However, they “partially admitted” their involvement, Beccuau said.
Investigators have found no current evidence of assistance from within the Louvre staff. Nevertheless, they are not ruling out a wider criminal network beyond the four thieves seen on footage.
Priceless Jewels Are Now ‘Unsellable’
Security footage showed the four thieves forcing open a window into the Apollo Gallery. They used power tools to cut into display cases. They then fled on two scooters. The crew arrived in a truck with a freight lift.
The theft took less than four minutes. The crew escaped with eight pieces of priceless jewelry before alarms sounded. Empress Eugénie’s crown, dropped during their escape, was the only piece that survived the theft.
Prosecutor Beccuau issued a fresh appeal to the culprits. She stressed that the stolen jewels are now “unsellable.” Anyone buying them would be guilty of concealment of stolen goods. She concluded, “There’s still time to give them back.”
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