Two Arrested in Daring Louvre Heist — But the $102 Million Jewels Are Still Missing
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French police nab two suspects behind the Louvre’s jaw-dropping jewelry robbery, but the priceless gems remain at large.
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The Louvre made headlines for all the wrong reasons this month when thieves pulled off a Hollywood-style heist right in broad daylight. On October 19, a group of robbers climbed up a ladder from a stolen movers’ truck, sliced through a gallery wall with power tools, and escaped with royal jewelry worth a whopping $102 million—all in just a few minutes.
Among the stolen pieces was an emerald-and-diamond necklace once gifted by Napoleon Bonaparte to his wife, Empress Marie-Louise. The only item left behind? A damaged diamond-and-emerald crown dropped during the getaway.
Caught—But Not Quite Closed
Fast forward a week later: two men in their 30s from Seine-Saint-Denis were arrested, one of them caught at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport while trying to fly to Algeria. Authorities say both suspects were already known to the police for theft.
They’re now being held on suspicion of organized theft and criminal conspiracy and could face up to 96 hours in custody.
But the jewels? Still gone.
Clues, DNA, and a Big Security Oops
Police say they’ve collected DNA, fingerprints, gloves, and power tools from the scene, which may lead to more arrests soon. The Louvre’s director has since admitted that the robbers exploited a blind spot in the museum’s security—a costly oversight for one of the world’s most famous institutions.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised the “tireless” investigators but expressed concern that the jewels might already be stashed or dismantled abroad.
A Wake-Up Call for French Museums
The Louvre robbery isn’t a one-off. Within days, another museum in eastern France was hit, losing gold and silver coins. Just last month, the Natural History Museum in Paris lost gold nuggets worth over $1.5 million.
In response, Culture Minister Rachida Dati has demanded a full review of museum security and hinted at new measures coming soon. Meanwhile, lawmakers are already proposing a €50 million emergency fund to protect France’s cultural treasures.
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