French authorities have detained two suspects believed to be involved in the brazen heist at the Louvre museum, where precious crown jewels worth an estimated $102 million were stolen, officials announced on Sunday.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed the arrests, stating that they were made on Saturday evening, stating, “One of the men arrested was about to leave the country” from Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, adding the second man was detained shortly afterward in the Paris region.
The two men were taken into police custody on suspicion of organised theft and criminal conspiracy, with Beccuau warning that public revelation of the arrests could hinder the efforts of the 100 investigators working on the case. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised the investigators’ work and called for confidentiality during the ongoing investigation.
The Heist and Stolen Items
In the heist on 19 October, the robbers used a stolen movers’ truck and cutting equipment to break into a first-floor gallery housing royal gems. They dropped a diamond- and emerald-studded crown as they fled but managed to steal eight other pieces, including an emerald-and-diamond necklace that Napoleon Bonaparte gave his wife, Empress Marie-Louise.
The brazen theft has made headlines worldwide and sparked a debate in France about the security of cultural institutions, as the Louvre’s director admitted that the robbers had taken advantage of a blind spot in the museum’s security surveillance.
Investigation and Security Concerns
Investigators found DNA samples and fingerprints at the scene, left behind by the robbers as they fled. They also recovered a crown that once belonged to Empress Eugenie, which was damaged and needs restoration.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez expressed concern for the missing jewellery, stating that the heist appeared to be the work of an organised crime group. “The loot is unfortunately often stashed abroad. I hope that’s not the case.. I remain confident,” he said.
The Louvre theft is the latest in a string of robberies targeting French museums, while less than 24 hours, a museum in eastern France reported the theft of gold and silver coins. Last month, criminals broke into Paris’s Natural History Museum, stealing gold nuggets worth more than $1.5 million.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati has requested findings from an investigation into the Louvre’s security by early next week to announce concrete measures to secure the museum.
