Louvre Heist: Five More Arrests Made in Jewel Theft
PARIS - French authorities announced Friday teh arrest of five additional suspects in connection with the brazen theft of jewels from the Louvre Museum earlier this week.This brings the total number of individuals in custody to seven, as investigators continue to unravel the details of the meticulously planned operation.
The arrests follow the earlier charging of two men, aged 34 and 39, from Aubervilliers, with theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy.These initial suspects were apprehended after nearly 96 hours in custody and “partially admitted” their involvement, according to prosecutor Anne-Charlotte Beccuau. One was intercepted at Charles de Gaulle Airport attempting to travel to Algeria,with DNA evidence linking him to a scooter used in the escape.The Louvre heist, valued at an estimated tens of millions of euros, has sparked scrutiny of the museum’s security protocols and raised questions about France’s ability to protect its cultural heritage.
The examination revealed critical security lapses, including aging, partly analog cameras and delayed CCTV cabling work-a $93 million project not slated for completion until 2029-30. The Louvre’s camera authorization had even lapsed in July. The initial alert came from a cyclist who witnessed helmeted men using a lift to access the Apollo Gallery.
Former bank robber David Desclos told the Associated Press he had previously warned the Louvre of “glaring vulnerabilities” in the gallery’s layout, a claim the museum has not yet addressed. The ongoing investigation is being conducted under strict secrecy, with the prosecutor as the sole authorized source of public information.
