At least 150 DNA traces, including fingerprints, were discovered at the crime scene where the Louvre burglars stole jewels valued at £176 million. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau revealed that forensic teams are analyzing the samples to identify the four thieves behind the daylight robbery at the world-renowned museum. Beccuau expressed optimism about swiftly locating the culprits, suggesting that if they have a criminal record, their DNA might already be in police databases.
The DNA samples were found on a stolen flatbed truck, as well as on a discarded crash helmet and glove left behind by the suspects who tried to set the vehicle on fire before fleeing on two motorbikes following a quick seven-minute heist. Although CCTV cameras inside the Louvre did not capture the crime, external surveillance footage tracked the criminals’ escape route out of Paris and neighboring areas.
Beccuau emphasized the urgency of apprehending the thieves to recover the stolen jewelry before it could be altered or sold. She highlighted the role of media coverage in deterring the perpetrators from moving the jewels and expressed hope for a swift resolution to the case. An investigation into theft and criminal conspiracy involving a highly organized gang has been initiated, with potential penalties of up to 15 years in prison for those responsible.
The Banditism Repression Brigade of the Judicial Police is spearheading the investigation, supported by the Central Office for Combating Trafficking in Cultural Property. The Louvre, a popular tourist destination with millions of visitors annually, attracts a significant number of foreign tourists, including a substantial contingent from the UK. The stolen historical artifacts are often kept hidden by masterminds behind such thefts or may be broken down for individual sale to obscure their origins.