Four suspects charged in connection with a daring heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris are being described by prosecutors as petty criminals rather than sophisticated masterminds. The theft, which took place last month, involved the stealing of historical jewels valued at up to $102 million from the world-famous museum. Three of the arrested individuals are suspected of directly participating in the robbery, while the fourth person is identified as the girlfriend of one of the thieves.
Paris State Prosecutor Laure Beccuau characterized the crime during a Sunday interview with FranceInfo radio, stating, "This is not quite everyday delinquency but it is a type of delinquency that we do not generally associate with the upper echelons of organized crime." The prosecutor's assessment challenges initial speculation that the audacious museum heist was the work of an international crime syndicate. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told the French daily newspaper Le Parisien that he believes the one suspect still on the run was likely the organizer of the entire operation.
The heist unfolded on Sunday, October 19, when two men positioned a moving lift outside the prestigious Louvre Museum. The thieves rode the lift up to the second story of the building and smashed through a window to gain entry. Once inside, they used angle grinders to break open display cases containing the valuable jewelry collection. The entire operation lasted less than seven minutes, with the robbers escaping on scooters driven by two accomplices who were waiting outside.
Prosecutor Beccuau noted the apparent connections between the suspects, revealing that all those arrested are residents of Paris's northern suburbs, specifically the Seine-Saint-Denis area, which is known as a low-income region. "These are clearly local people. They all live more or less in Seine-Saint-Denis," she explained. The prosecutor also disclosed that two of the suspects had been previously convicted together in 2015 for another theft case, suggesting a history of criminal collaboration.
Several factors led authorities to conclude that the thieves were amateurs rather than professionals. Most notably, the robbers dropped the most valuable item in their haul – Empress Eugenie's crown, which is made of gold, emeralds, and diamonds. Additionally, they left behind crucial evidence at the scene, including tools, a glove, and other items. The suspects also failed in their attempt to set fire to the moving truck before fleeing, which would have destroyed evidence of their crime.
One week after the theft occurred, police made their first arrests, apprehending two men suspected of being the individuals who actually broke into the museum. The first suspect is a 34-year-old Algerian man who has been living in France since 2010. The second is a 39-year-old man who was already under judicial supervision for aggravated theft at the time of the robbery. According to Prosecutor Beccuau, both men "partially admitted" their involvement in the heist when questioned by authorities.
Two additional suspects were arrested on October 29 and formally charged on November 1. The third suspect is a 37-year-old man whose DNA was discovered inside the moving truck used in the robbery. This individual has an extensive criminal record, with 11 previous convictions for various offenses, including aggravated theft. He was arrested alongside a 38-year-old woman who is in a romantic relationship with him and with whom he has children.
Both of the later arrested suspects have denied any involvement in the museum heist. According to BFM television reports, the 38-year-old woman broke down in tears upon learning she would remain in custody. "I am afraid for my children, and for myself, I am afraid," the woman was reported to have cried during her detention hearing. Her lawyer, Adrien Sorrentino, told BFM that his client denies all charges and that he is considering appealing her detention order. Meanwhile, the fifth member of the heist team remains at large, along with the stolen jewels, as the investigation continues.
