Inside the Louvre Heist: DNA Evidence and Criminal Histories of Four Suspects in $102 Million Crown Jewel Theft

Police officers patrol near the glass Pyramid as visitors queue to enter the Louvre Museum

Four individuals have been formally charged and detained in connection with the Louvre heist, including three suspected members of the team that forcibly entered the museum and escaped with crown jewels valued at $102 million.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau highlighted the apparent connection between the suspects. Two were previously convicted together in a 2015 theft case, and all reside in northern Paris suburbs.

Officials confirmed the stolen jewelry remains unrecovered, and the fourth member of the "commando" team is still at large. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that investigators are also searching for potential masterminds behind the crime.

In accordance with French law, which mandates investigative information remain confidential to protect police work, the suspects' names and detailed biographical information have not been released to the public.

Here's what has been revealed about the suspects:

A 34-year-old Algerian citizen who has resided in France since 2010 is believed to be one of two thieves who entered the Apollo Gallery equipped with disc cutters to break into display cases and steal the jewels.

Authorities apprehended him on October 25, six days after the heist, at Charles de Gaulle airport as he attempted to board a flight to Algeria without a return ticket.

The Algerian national lives in Aubervilliers, a northern Paris suburb, and has a record primarily consisting of traffic violations and one theft. Investigators matched his DNA to a scooter used in the escape.

He informed investigators that he is currently unemployed but previously worked as a garbage collector and delivery driver. He faces preliminary charges of theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy.

A 39-year-old man was also arrested on October 25 at his Aubervilliers home, where he was born. Investigators believe he was the second individual who entered the Apollo Gallery. His DNA was discovered on one of the jewelry display cases and on items abandoned by the thieves.

He has a history of multiple theft offenses.

The 39-year-old faces an upcoming trial for damaging a mirror and cell door while detained during a separate theft investigation, from which he was eventually cleared. He told investigators he works as an unlicensed taxi driver.

He faces preliminary charges of theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy.

According to Beccuau, both men provided "minimalist" statements and "partially admitted" their involvement in the Louvre heist.

A 37-year-old man was apprehended on Wednesday, 10 days after the heist.

Authorities believe he was the third member of the four-person team who arrived at the Louvre with a lift truck, posing as renovation workers to position the vehicle at the museum entrance. The group later fled on two scooters toward eastern Paris.

Investigators found his DNA inside the basket lift.

The Paris prosecutor stated that he denied involvement in the crime.

His criminal record includes 11 previous convictions, 10 for theft offenses. In 2015, he was convicted in Paris in the same theft case as the 39-year-old suspect.

He faces preliminary charges of theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy.

A 38-year-old woman arrested Wednesday is the longtime partner of the 37-year-old suspect and mother of their children. The couple resides in La Courneuve, another northern Paris suburb near Aubervilliers.

According to her lawyer, the woman denied any involvement in the crime.

Investigators found traces of her DNA on the basket lift, which the Paris prosecutor suggested could possibly result from "DNA transfer" – DNA she may have left on a person or item that subsequently transferred to the basket lift.

She faces preliminary charges of complicity in theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy.