Police have apprehended five additional individuals in connection with the theft of crown jewels from the Louvre Museum. Despite the arrests, the stolen treasures have yet to be recovered.
According to Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, law enforcement conducted operations in Paris and nearby areas to capture the five suspects. The identities of these individuals have not been disclosed at this time.
One of the arrested suspects is believed to have been part of the group that carried out the brazen daylight robbery at the Louvre on October 19. Two other alleged accomplices were previously arrested and charged with criminal conspiracy and theft by an organized gang. Both individuals have reportedly confessed to their involvement.
Although the investigation has progressed rapidly, the missing jewels remain elusive. Prosecutor Beccuau stated that recent searches failed to locate the stolen items.
The theft, which lasted less than eight minutes, resulted in the theft of jewels valued at around £78 million. The thieves broke into the museum, used power tools to access the cases, and absconded with eight pieces of the French crown jewels.
One of the accused, a 34-year-old Algerian national residing in France since 2010, was arrested at the airport while attempting to leave for Algeria without a return ticket. He was living in Aubervilliers, a suburb north of Paris, and was primarily known to authorities for traffic violations. His DNA was found on one of the getaway scooters.
Another suspect, aged 39, was arrested at his residence in Aubervilliers. This individual had a history of thefts known to the police. His DNA was discovered on one of the display cases at the museum and on items left behind by the thieves.
Surveillance footage indicated the involvement of at least four criminals in the heist. The group arrived in a truck equipped with a lift, allowing two members to access the museum through a window.
The perpetrators fled on two scooters along the Seine River towards eastern Paris, where additional vehicles were parked. Prosecutor Beccuau mentioned that there is no evidence suggesting inside collaboration from the museum staff.
In a public appeal, Beccuau urged anyone in possession of the stolen jewels to return them, emphasizing that the items are unsellable and purchasing them would constitute a crime.