In connection with the robbery of valuable crown jewels from the renowned Louvre Museum, law enforcement has apprehended an additional five individuals. Despite the arrests, the stolen treasures have not yet been recovered.
According to Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, the police carried out separate operations in Paris and its environs to capture the five suspects on Wednesday night. The identities of these individuals have not been disclosed at this time.
It is believed that one of the arrested individuals was part of the group of thieves who conducted the brazen daylight heist at the Louvre on October 19. Two other alleged accomplices from the same group were previously arrested and charged with criminal conspiracy and organized gang theft. Prosecutors indicate that both suspects have confessed to their involvement.
Despite ongoing investigative efforts, the whereabouts of the missing jewels remain unknown. Prosecutor Beccuau stated, “Search operations conducted last night and throughout the night did not yield the recovery of the stolen items.”
The thieves managed to steal the jewels, valued at approximately £78 million, in less than eight minutes. They gained entry by forcibly opening a window, using power tools to break into display cases, and escaping with eight pieces of the French crown jewels.
One of the suspects, a 34-year-old Algerian national residing in France since 2010, has been arrested. He was apprehended at Charles de Gaulle airport while attempting to depart to Algeria without a return ticket.
Living in a northern suburb of Paris called Aubervilliers, this individual has a history of mainly minor traffic offenses known to the authorities. His DNA was identified on one of the scooters used during the escape from the crime scene.
Another suspect, aged 39, was apprehended at his residence in Aubervilliers. This individual was previously linked to multiple theft incidents. His DNA was found on a display case where the stolen jewels were housed and on items left behind by the thieves.
Prosecutor Beccuau reported that surveillance footage indicated the involvement of at least four culprits. The group arrived in a truck equipped with a lift, allowing two of them to access the museum through a window.
Following the heist, the perpetrators fled on two scooters along the Seine River towards eastern Paris, where additional vehicles were parked. Beccuau stated that there is no evidence suggesting insider involvement from the museum staff.
In an appeal made on Wednesday evening, Beccuau urged anyone in possession of the stolen jewels to return them, emphasizing that the items are effectively unsellable and any potential buyer would be complicit in concealing stolen goods.
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