Major Jewelry Heist at the Louvre: Timeline of the Daring Paris Museum Robbery and First Arrests

Paris prosecutors disclosed Sunday the first apprehension of suspects connected to the multimillion-dollar crown jewels theft from the Louvre museum, occurring one week after the daring heist at the world's most frequented museum.

The suspects were captured Saturday evening.

The chronology of events unfolded as follows:

October 10

Perpetrators employed deceptive means to acquire a basket lift. Paris prosecutor Laurence Beccuau revealed they scheduled an appointment with the truck-owning company before departing with the vehicle using intimidation tactics but without violence. The company subsequently filed a theft report in the town of Louvres, situated approximately 20 kilometers north of Paris. Many have questioned whether this location name was merely coincidental.

October 19

9:00 AM: The Louvre museum commences daily operations for visitors.

9:30 AM: Disguised as renovation workers, the thieves position the freight lift-equipped truck on the sidewalk at the Louvre's base along Quai François Mitterrand beside the Seine River. They strategically place traffic cones surrounding the vehicle to simulate maintenance activities. Two individuals ascend a ladder to access a balcony and infiltrate through a window.

9:34 AM: The two intruders enter the Apollo Gallery's southern section. This triggers an alarm in the security control room. A staff member initiates radio communication to notify command center personnel about the unauthorized entry.

9:35 AM: The robbers utilize disc cutters to precisely slice through the glass of two display cases and extract the jewels. Security personnel evacuate visitors according to crowd safety protocols. The museum manager contacts the nearby police station to report an ongoing theft and requests immediate assistance.

9:36 AM: A command center team leader activates a special alert button linked directly to Paris police headquarters.

9:37 AM: Staff receives instructions to secure all museum entrances.

9:38 AM: The thieves exit through the same window and escape eastward with two accomplices waiting on scooters. They abandon a yellow construction-type jacket and equipment including a disc cutter. Culture Minister Rachida Dati stated that on-site security officers prevented one thief from igniting the freight lift truck.

10:34 AM: Dati announces via social media: "A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum."

Later that day: Napoleon III's wife Empress Eugénie's imperial crown, adorned with emeralds and over 1,300 diamonds, is recovered outside the museum. However, the thieves successfully escaped with eight other historically priceless artifacts.

October 22

The museum resumes operations. Prosecutor Beccuau confirms approximately 100 investigators are assigned to the case, supplemented by forensics specialists analyzing surveillance footage and 150 samples collected from the basket lift, museum interior, and discovered items.

October 26

Beccuau announces that investigators conducted arrests Saturday evening, including one suspect who was preparing to depart France via Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. She does not disclose whether any jewels have been recovered. The arrests were executed by a specialized police unit responsible for armed robberies, major burglaries, and art thefts.