Paris, France—Two suspects in the audacious daylight theft of royal jewels from the Louvre Museum have been apprehended by French police, the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on Sunday, six days after the high-profile robbery.
The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the October 19 heist, which saw thieves make off with eight pieces of royal jewellery, including crown jewels, with an estimated value of approximately 150 billion Korean Won (about €88 million or $102 million).
According to a statement from the Paris prosecutor's office, two suspects were taken into custody on Saturday night. One man, attempting to flee the country, was arrested at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport around 10 p.m. as he prepared to board a flight to Algeria. The second suspect was apprehended in Seine-Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris.
Both suspects are reportedly in their thirties and hail from Seine-Saint-Denis. They share a criminal history, specifically for previous theft convictions, suggesting a level of organization behind the brazen crime. They are believed to be part of a four-member crew involved in the theft. The two arrested men are being held for questioning for up to 96 hours, the maximum pre-charge custody period under French law for serious crimes.
The robbery itself was a marvel of audacious efficiency, lasting less than seven minutes in total, with the thieves spending a mere four minutes inside the museum's Apollo Gallery, which houses the French Crown Jewels. The perpetrators employed a furniture removal truck fitted with an extending ladder, which they used to scale the exterior wall of the museum, where external surveillance was lacking. Posing as maintenance workers, they then smashed a second-floor window to gain entry. After seizing the treasures from display cases, they quickly descended and fled the scene on two waiting scooters.
The rapid progress in the investigation is attributed to forensic work at the scene. Authorities reportedly recovered DNA and fingerprints, which allowed them to identify and track the suspects. Investigators are now focused on locating the stolen jewels and apprehending the two remaining accomplices.
The Paris Prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, confirmed the arrests but also expressed strong disapproval of the premature leak of information to the media, noting that "This disclosure can only hinder the investigative efforts of the hundred or so mobilised investigators, both in the search for the stolen jewellery and for all the perpetrators."
The heist has exposed critical security vulnerabilities at the Louvre, the world's most-visited museum, drawing international scrutiny. France’s Justice Ministry acknowledged the failure of security protocols, admitting the incident cast a "deplorable image of France." The museum's director has since requested the establishment of a dedicated police station within the complex.
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