Suspects Confess Some Role in Daylight Robbery
Two suspects taken into custody for robbing jewels from the Louvre Museum have “partially admitted” that they were involved in the robbery, but the valuable pieces of loot are nowhere to be found. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau informed newsmen on Wednesday that the two suspects were apprehended by the police but the pilfered treasures remain elusive. Four hooded thieves burgled the museum’s Apollo gallery on October 19 and stole eight items valued at approximately $102 million. The gallery is home to the French Crown Jewels.
The theft occurred in the daytime when the museum was open to visitors, revealing serious issues with security at the globe’s most visited museum. Beccuau explained that the two men who are in custody broke into the museum through one of its windows upstairs while two other associates waited outside on the street below. “Both have partially admitted their role to investigators,” she told a press conference.
More People Might Be Involved
The prosecutor indicated that there might be additional individuals involved, such as one who commissioned the theft and possibly could have been expecting to receive the stolen jewels. Currently, there is no evidence that any of the museum employees assisted in the robbery, she stated. “The jewels are still out of our reach. But I want to hold on to hope that they will be discovered and returned to the Louvre Museum,” Beccuau said to reporters.
Police arrested the two men on Saturday when they discovered their DNA at the scene. One of them is a 34-year-old Algerian man who has been staying in France since 2010 but does not work. Police arrested him at the airport while he attempted to board a flight to Algeria. The other is a 39-year-old man who was already under the watch of the courts for another case of theft. Both men reside in Aubervilliers, a deprived area in northern Paris.
Thieves Used Stolen Truck to Break In
The robbers had stolen a lift truck from a town, Louvres, close to Paris two weeks before the robbery. They utilised it to access an outside balcony and then broke a window to enter. The entire robbery lasted six to seven minutes. The security cameras of the museum failed to see the break-in early enough to prevent it.
The security issues were so severe that the museum was forced to discreetly relocate some of its most prized jewels to the Bank of France with police escorts, French radio RTL reported. The news of the robbery went global and left many French citizens embarrassed. Others thought it was a national shame that robbers could make off with priceless treasures by walking into their most celebrated museum in the daytime. The legal teams for both suspects informed TV station BFMTV that their clients will only address investigating judges and prefer the case to remain confidential.
News At Glance
- Two suspects “partially admitted” role in $102 million Louvre jewel heist
- Four hooded robbers entered by the upstairs window during the daytime on October 19
- Missing stolen jewels with a potentially greater group having a mastermind on board
- Suspects apprehended by DNA, one arrested attempting to escape to Algeria
- The museum relocated other valuable jewels to the Bank of France following security breaches
FAQs
Q: How much were the stolen jewels worth?
A: The eight valuable items stolen from the Louvre collection are valued at an estimated $102 million. They formed part of the French Crown Jewels exhibition.
Q: How did the burglars gain entry into the museum?
A: They took a lift truck two weeks prior and used it to access an exterior balcony. Then they broke a window and entered during regular daytime hours.
Q: Have the jewels been recovered?
A: No, the items stolen remain missing. The prosecutor indicated she hopes that they will be recovered and returned to the Louvre Museum.
Q: Who are the suspects?
A: Two 34-year-old and 39-year-old men from a working-class Paris suburb named Aubervilliers. One is Algerian and was arrested attempting to fly there. The other was already under surveillance for another robbery.
Q: Were more individuals involved?
A: Yes, the prosecutor stated that there could be an even larger group involving an individual who had placed the order for the theft and was meant to receive stolen jewels.
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