French authorities have apprehended five additional suspects in connection with the audacious daytime robbery of the French crown jewels from the Louvre Museum. Despite these arrests, the invaluable treasures continue to elude recovery, officials announced on Thursday.
The arrests were part of a series of operations conducted in various locations around Paris and its vicinity, including the Seine-Saint-Denis region. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau shared these developments during an interview with RTL radio, although the names of the suspects remain undisclosed.
Among those recently detained is an individual believed to have been part of the four-member crew that boldly breached the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery in daylight on October 19. Their swift operation resulted in the theft of jewels worth 88 million euros, equivalent to $102 million, all within a mere eight minutes.
“Our searches conducted last night and into the early hours have yet to lead us to the missing items,” Beccuau mentioned, underscoring the ongoing challenge faced by investigators.
Earlier in the week, two other suspects were detained on Sunday and have since faced preliminary charges as of Wednesday. These charges pertain to criminal conspiracy and theft perpetrated by an organized group. According to Beccuau, both individuals have partially acknowledged their roles in the high-profile heist.
As the investigation progresses, the public remains captivated by this extraordinary theft, while the Louvre continues to be a focal point for both visitors and art lovers worldwide, even under the shadow of this unresolved crime.
One suspect, a 34-year-old Algerian national living in France since 2010, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport attempting to flee to Algeria on a one-way ticket. He lived in the northern Paris suburb of Aubervilliers and was previously known to police for traffic violations. His DNA was recovered from a scooter used in the getaway.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau speaks during a news conference at the Paris courthouse Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, on the judicial investigation into the robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)
The second suspect, 39, was arrested at his home in Aubervilliers. He was known to police for multiple prior thefts. Investigators matched his DNA to a glass display case that held the stolen jewels, as well as to items the thieves left behind, the prosecutor added.
The thieves used a basket lift to scale the museum’s exterior, forced open a window, and used cutting tools to open display cases in the Apollo Gallery. They escaped with eight historic pieces, including:
– A sapphire diadem, necklace, and earring set linked to Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense
– An emerald necklace and earrings belonging to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon’s second wife
– A reliquary brooch
– Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and elaborate corsage-bow brooch
Eugénie’s emerald-encrusted crown – set with over 1,300 diamonds – was later found damaged but recoverable outside the museum.
Louvre Director Laurence des Cars acknowledged a “terrible failure” in museum security. However, Beccuau said there is no evidence the theft was an inside job.
A police car parks in the courtyard of the Louvre Museum, one week after the robbery, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)
In a direct appeal to those holding the missing jewels, Beccuau on Wednesday night warned they are “unsellable” due to their historical significance and urged their return.
“Anyone who buys them would be guilty of concealment of stolen goods,” she said. “There’s still time to give them back.”
