Two people have been arrested following a heist at The Louvre which saw thieves make off with historic crown jewels worth over $100 million.
Described as one of the most daring thefts in modern French history, the robbery has prompted an international manhunt, accusations of an inside job, and fears that the artifacts may be lost forever.
Investigators have been working around the clock to recover the jewels, and now authorities have made two arrests.
Arrests Made in High-Profile Museum Robbery
French authorities have made a breakthrough in the Louvre crown jewels theft, arresting two men suspected of being involved in the heist that stunned the art world and embarrassed French officials.
According to Le Parisien, both suspects are from Seine-Saint-Denis, a suburb north of Paris. One of the men was reportedly intercepted at Charles de Gaulle Airport just as he was about to board a flight.
The arrests come days after four masked thieves pulled off a lightning-fast robbery at the world’s most-visited museum, making off with irreplaceable crown jewels in a matter of minutes.
The Louvre. Credit: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty
How the Heist Went Down: Four Minutes of Chaos
The robbery unfolded just after 9:30AM local time last Sunday, shortly after the Louvre opened its doors to the public.
The gang arrived equipped with power tools and used a vehicle-mounted lift to access a first-floor balcony near the River Seine, leading directly to the Galerie d’Apollon.
Images captured from the scene showed a ladder leading up to a window, which the thieves reportedly cut through to gain entry. Once inside, two of the suspects used power tools to breach the window while the others stood guard.
The intruders then threatened security staff, prompting an immediate evacuation of the premises. They smashed into two display cases, grabbing jewels described as being of “inestimable value.”
The thieves used a ladder to break into a window. Credit: Remon Haazen / Getty
Shocking Security Lapses Revealed
French media have since reported that a preliminary investigation uncovered major blind spots in the museum’s surveillance system. One in three rooms in the targeted area reportedly lacked CCTV coverage - raising serious concerns about the museum’s ability to safeguard its most valuable exhibits.
The entire operation lasted just four minutes, with the thieves fleeing the scene on two scooters at 9:38AM.
In the wake of the theft, France’s Justice Minister publicly acknowledged that security procedures at the Louvre had fallen short.
He stated that the failure left the country with a “terrible image,” emphasizing the blow to national pride as well as the international reputation of one of France’s most iconic institutions.