Forensic investigators revealed that the Louvre burglars left behind at least 150 DNA traces, including fingerprints, after stealing £176 million worth of jewels. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated that forensic teams were analyzing the samples to identify the four thieves responsible for the daylight robbery at the museum. Beccuau expressed optimism that the culprits, if with prior criminal records, would have their DNA on file for identification.
The DNA samples were found on a stolen flatbed truck, a crash helmet, and a glove abandoned at the scene where the suspects unsuccessfully tried to set fire to the vehicle before fleeing on two motorbikes within seven minutes. While interior CCTV cameras did not capture the crime at the Apollo Gallery, where seven historic pieces were stolen, external surveillance footage tracked the criminals’ escape route out of Paris.
Beccuau emphasized the urgency in capturing the thieves to recover the jewels before potential disposal or destruction. She acknowledged that media coverage could deter the perpetrators from moving the stolen items too far. An investigation has been launched into the theft, categorizing it as a highly organized criminal act with possible penalties of up to 15 years in prison upon conviction.
The Banditism Repression Brigade of the Judicial Police is spearheading the investigation, in collaboration with the Central Office for Combating Trafficking in Cultural Property. The Louvre, a popular tourist destination with millions of visitors annually, faces the challenge of stolen art pieces being concealed or disassembled for illicit trade, posing a threat to their historical significance.