Paris police arrested five people linked to the theft of the Louvre crown jewels earlier this month in Paris and Seine-Saint-Denis suburb coordinated raids. According to Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, one of the newly detained suspects is the person directly involved in the four-man team that committed the theft.
The burglars were recorded by security cameras while they were breaking in. The two other members of the four-person team who have been arrested are partially admitted guilty. The last one is still at large and has not been apprehended. It is not detailed what the other four people arrested on Wednesday are charged with, but Beccuau stated that these new suspects “may eventually inform us about how the incident took place.”
DNA Evidence Links Suspect to Crime Scene
Beccuau stated that DNA found at the crime scene at the Louvre could be linked to one of the people who were arrested on Wednesday night. “We had him in our sights,” she said about the main suspect. She added that the recent arrests were made based on “other elements of the case” and not on the previously arrested suspects’ statements. Police believe the gang behind this heist is bigger than just the four people who physically broke into the museum.
During the searches, police found mobile phones and other articles with the suspects. The investigators are now decrypting the encrypted messages in these devices to get more information on the theft planning and execution. The detainees can be retained by police for up to four days prior to being charged with offenses or released. Beccuau said that there is no indication that any museum staff gave help to the robbers thus far.
How the Theft Happened
The heist was at the Louvre on October 19 and thus the most visited museum in the world was robbed. The four thieves broke into the building in broad daylight at 9:30 in the morning, just after the museum opened to visitors. They came in with a stolen car that had a mechanical lift attached to it. The criminals employed this lift to ascend to the Gallery of Apollo by a balcony close to the River Seine.
When they got in, they employed a disc cutter to open the glass cases in which the jewels were kept. They managed to do the whole thing in four minutes. At 9:38, they fled on two scooters that were waiting outside and then drove off in cars going east. The stolen items are worth 88 million euros. Eight pieces of jewellery were taken, including the Marie-Louise necklace and earrings. The precious crown jewels have not been recovered yet. Following the robbery, the Louvre has taken some of its most precious jewels to a vault 26 meters underground at the Bank of France.
News At Glance
- Five more suspects arrested Wednesday night in coordinated raids across Paris and surrounding areas
- A newly arrested individual believed to be part of the four-man team that physically carried out the theft
- DNA evidence from one arrested individual may link them directly to the crime scene at the museum
- Thieves stole jewels worth 88 million euros in a four-minute operation on October 19
- The Louvre has moved the remaining precious jewels to a Bank of France vault 26 meters underground
FAQs
Q1: How many people have been arrested in total for this theft?
Seven people have been arrested up to now, two last week and five more on Wednesday night, but one thief is still at large.
Q2: Have the stolen jewels been found?
No, the eight pieces of crown jewellery worth 88 million euros have not been found yet.
Q3: How long did the actual theft take?
The burglars were inside the museum for merely four minutes, after which they fled on scooters at 9:38 in the morning.
Q4: Did anyone working at the museum help the thieves?
A negative response, the prosecutor stated that there is no indication at this point in time that the theft was an inside job.
Q5: What has the Louvre done since the theft?
The museum has enhanced security and relocated its most valuable remaining jewels to a secure vault at the Bank of France.
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