Police have apprehended five additional suspects in connection with the theft of crown jewels from the prestigious Louvre Museum. Despite the arrests, the stolen treasures have not yet been recovered.
According to Prosecutor Laure Beccuau, law enforcement conducted operations in Paris and nearby areas to capture the suspects on Wednesday night. The identities of the apprehended individuals have not been disclosed.
One of the suspects is believed to have been part of the group of four individuals who carried out the brazen robbery at the Louvre on October 19. Two other alleged accomplices were arrested earlier and charged with criminal conspiracy and organized theft. Both suspects have reportedly confessed to their involvement.
Although the investigation has been progressing swiftly, the missing jewels have not been located. Prosecutor Beccuau stated that recent searches failed to uncover the stolen items.
The thieves managed to steal jewels worth approximately £78 million in less than eight minutes by breaking into the museum, using power tools to open display cases, and fleeing with eight pieces of the French crown jewels.
Among those charged is a 34-year-old Algerian national residing in France since 2010. He was arrested at the airport as he was attempting to leave for Algeria without a return ticket. The individual, previously known to police for traffic offenses, had his DNA traced to one of the scooters used during the escape.
Another suspect, aged 39, was arrested at his residence in Aubervilliers. This individual, with a history of theft-related offenses, had his DNA linked to the glass cases at the museum and items left behind by the thieves.
Video surveillance footage revealed that at least four culprits were involved in the heist. The group arrived in a truck equipped with a lift, allowing two of them to access the museum through a window.
The criminals departed on two scooters along the Seine River towards eastern Paris, where additional vehicles were parked. Prosecutor Beccuau emphasized that there is no evidence suggesting insider involvement from the museum staff.
In an appeal, Beccuau urged anyone in possession of the stolen jewels to return them, emphasizing that the items are now unsellable and purchasing them would constitute handling stolen goods.