Police have apprehended five additional individuals in connection with the theft of crown jewels from the renowned Louvre Museum. However, the precious items are still missing.
According to Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, law enforcement conducted separate operations in Paris and its outskirts to capture the five suspects on Wednesday night. The identities of these individuals have not yet been disclosed.
One of the arrested suspects is believed to have been part of the group of four individuals who carried out the brazen robbery at the Louvre on October 19. Two other alleged accomplices were arrested earlier and charged with criminal conspiracy and theft by an organized group. Both suspects have reportedly confessed to their involvement in the crime.
Despite the ongoing investigation, the stolen jewels have not been recovered. Prosecutor Beccuau stated that recent searches have failed to locate the missing treasures.
The heist, which lasted less than eight minutes, resulted in the theft of jewels valued at around £78 million. The thieves broke in through a window, used power tools to access the cases, and escaped with eight pieces of the French crown jewels.
Among those facing charges is a 34-year-old Algerian national residing in France since 2010. He was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport while attempting to board a flight to Algeria without a return ticket. Authorities found his DNA on one of the scooters used in the getaway.
Another suspect, aged 39, was arrested at his residence in Aubervilliers. He was known to the police for previous thefts, and his DNA was found on one of the glass cases and items left behind by the thieves at the crime scene.
Video footage revealed that at least four individuals were involved in the heist. The group arrived in a truck equipped with a lift, allowing two of them to access the museum through a window.
The criminals fled on two scooters along the Seine River toward eastern Paris, where additional vehicles were parked. Prosecutor Beccuau confirmed that there is no evidence suggesting inside involvement from the museum staff.
In an appeal, Beccuau urged anyone in possession of the stolen jewels to return them, emphasizing that the items are unsellable and purchasing them would constitute the concealment of stolen goods.