A man arrested by French police earlier this week is believed to be the fourth member of the crew involved in the audacious heist of France’s crown jewels from the Louvre Museum. According to Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor overseeing the investigation, the 39-year-old suspect has a significant criminal history, with six prior convictions. He now faces preliminary charges of robbery by an organized gang, which carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years, as well as criminal conspiracy that could lead to an additional 10 years if he is found guilty.
The theft occurred on October 19, 2023, at the world’s most-visited museum, with the gang making off with jewels valued at approximately $102 million. This figure does not account for the immense historical significance these items hold for France. The prosecutor’s statement did not specify the suspect’s exact involvement in the heist, which was executed in broad daylight using angle grinders, a freight lift, and deceptive tactics, including disguises resembling maintenance workers.
Details of the Heist
The robbery is thought to have been orchestrated by a four-person team. Two individuals broke into the museum’s Apollo Gallery, where the crown jewels were exhibited, while two accomplices awaited outside on motorbikes to facilitate their escape. The entire operation took less than eight minutes, during which the intruders used a freight lift to access the building’s window.
Surveillance footage from the museum captured the two robbers cutting through jewelry display cases using grinders. Among the stolen items are a diamond-and-emerald necklace originally gifted to Empress Marie-Louise by Napoleon, as well as jewels associated with 19th-century Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense, and a pearl-and-diamond tiara belonging to Empress Eugénie.
While the majority of the treasures remain missing, the emerald-set imperial crown of Empress Eugénie, featuring over 1,300 diamonds, was discovered abandoned outside the museum shortly after the heist.
The investigation continues as authorities seek to apprehend any additional suspects involved in this high-profile crime. The Louvre, renowned for its vast collection of art and historical artifacts, remains on high alert following this incident, which has raised significant concerns regarding security at one of the world’s most iconic cultural institutions.
