Paris, France – Four individuals, including one woman, have been formally charged in connection with the brazen theft of jewels from the Louvre Museum, French authorities announced today. The charges come after a swift inquiry into Monday’s heist, which saw thieves calmly smash display cases and make off with a important quantity of valuables.
The suspects are accused of being part of a highly organized operation that exploited a security lapse involving a freight lift installed on a public street outside the museum. France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati described the theft as “very professional,” noting that surveillance footage showed the perpetrators entering the Louvre “calmly” and committing the crime “with no violence.” The incident has prompted a full security review and placed renewed pressure on President Emmanuel Macron and Louvre director Laurence des Cars.
President Macron condemned the theft as “an attack on a heritage that we cherish as it is indeed our history,” vowing to “recover the works” and bring those responsible “to justice.” Justice Minister Gérald darmanin acknowledged “serious failures” in security protocols, stating that the undetected installation of the freight lift “shows that our systems must be reassessed.” He further emphasized that the incident “projects a negative image of France.”
Forensic investigators are currently collecting evidence at the scene. The value of the stolen jewels has not yet been publicly disclosed,and the investigation is ongoing.
Additional reporting by Rebecca Schneid
