Paris - The investigation into the sensational theft of the French Crown Jewels from the Louvre Museum is gaining momentum. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau announced the arrest of five new suspects, bringing the total number of people detained in the investigation to seven.
The arrests, formally confirmed to broadcaster RTL, took place yesterday evening, around 21:00 pm, in several locations in the Paris region of Ile-de-France.
According to initial reports by BfmTv, among the newly arrested individuals is an individual believed to be a direct member of the commando that carried out the robbery. The other four arrested "could provide information on the course of events," as specified by Prosecutor Beccuau.
The lightning strike at the Apollo Gallery
The theft, dubbed by many as the "heist of the century," took place on Sunday, October 19, 2025, inside the Apollo Gallery, one of the most heavily guarded areas of the Louvre.
It might interest you
The attackers used a furniture lift to gain access to a balcony overlooking the Seine, then forced open a window. Once inside, the criminals smashed two armored display cases to steal eight priceless objects. The loot included a tiara, cufflinks linked to the parures of Maria Amalia and Queen Hortense, and a precious necklace that belonged to Empress Eugenie.
The value of the loot has been estimated at around 88 million euros, but Prosecutor Beccuau stressed that this figure does not fully reflect the "historical and financial damage suffered by France."
The museum, closed to the public on the day of the theft and the following day, kept the Apollo Gallery closed for several days while the investigation continued. The first two suspects had already been arrested last Saturday.
Despite the new wave of arrests, the stolen jewelry has not yet been recovered. "The investigation is continuing to identify all the key players," Prosecutor Beccuau reiterated, while clarifying that at this time "it's too early to define their profiles."
Comments (1)
The news of the theft of the Crown Jewels from the Louvre is truly shocking. I don't understand how a gang of thieves managed to gain access to the museum so easily; it's shocking. Let's hope they're found soon.