Four more people were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the October 19 heist at the Louvre, according to Paris prosecutors. The group, which includes two men aged 38 and 39 and two women aged 31 and 40, all hail from the Paris region, as stated by prosecutor Laure Beccuau.
These recent arrests add to four others already charged in the case. The earlier suspects—a mix of three men and one woman—face charges of organized theft and conspiracy. They carried out the audacious crime in broad daylight, managing to steal millions of dollars’ worth of royal jewels. These jewels once adorned French queens and empresses.
The Ministry of Culture confirmed that the haul included wearing pieces from the Marie-Louise collection, as well as a tiara and earrings from the collections of Queen Marie-Amélie and Empress Eugénie. In total, the stolen riches are valued at approximately $102 million, and have not yet been recovered.
Interestingly, at least two of the items, including Empress Eugénie’s crown, were reportedly dropped during the getaway, leaving a trail of clues. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the thieves as “experienced,” noting that they used power tools like a disc cutter to break into the museum. They even brought a crane to aid their escape through a window. The heist took a mere seven minutes and forced the museum to close for the day, quite an uncommon occurrence.
Just prior to this incident, a French court of auditors had pressed the Louvre to improve its security systems. Unfortunately, delays had pushed completion of these upgrades to 2032.
The boldness and precision of the theft have sparked widespread conversation on social media, with many expressing disbelief that such a crime could happen in a prestigious museum like the Louvre. Experts in museum security highlight that this incident underscores the urgent need for better protections in cultural institutions worldwide. As thefts like this become more common, the conversation around security enhancements is more critical than ever.
For further insights on museum safety and criminal trends in art theft, you can read this report from the Art Loss Register, which provides valuable statistics and analysis.
