Louvre Museum Heist: Suspects from Seine-Saint-Denis Arrested After $102 Million Crown Jewel Theft

The audacious theft at the Louvre Museum occurred on October 19.

Two individuals arrested in connection with the theft of valuable crown jewels from Paris's renowned Louvre Museum originate from the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb, an area encompassing some of France's most impoverished neighborhoods. According to official reports, one suspect was apprehended around 10 pm (2000 GMT) on Saturday at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to board a flight to Algeria. The second suspect was detained shortly thereafter in the Paris region.

Local media reported that one suspect holds French nationality, while the other possesses dual French and Algerian citizenship.

Both individuals, reportedly in their thirties, were previously known to French law enforcement authorities.

The daring heist at the Louvre, home to masterpieces including the Mona Lisa, was executed on October 19. The perpetrators breached the museum by utilizing a crane to shatter an upper-level window during operational hours and stole eight jewelry pieces valued at approximately $102 million from the Galerie d'Apollon (Apollo Gallery) – accomplishing the theft in nearly seven minutes. They subsequently fled on motorcycles, triggering an extensive search throughout France.

Video footage that emerged days after the incident showed one thief cutting through a display case as museum visitors passed nearby. Additional footage captured two robbers attired in construction equipment using a hydraulic lift to escape following the robbery.

The stolen items, according to the French culture ministry, included a tiara and brooch formerly belonging to Empress Eugenie, an emerald necklace and earrings of Empress Marie Louise, a tiara, necklace, and single earring from the sapphire collection previously owned by Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense, and a decorative piece known as the "reliquary brooch".

Officials stated that approximately 100 investigators are dedicated to the case, supplemented by forensic specialists analyzing surveillance recordings and 150 samples collected from the basket lift, within the museum, and from discovered items.