Five New Suspects Arrested in €88M Louvre Jewel Heist

French police have arrested five new suspects in connection with the brazen, daylight robbery of French crown jewels from the Louvre Museum, bringing the total number of people in custody to seven. Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed the arrests on Thursday, October 30, 2025, stating the detentions took place in and around Paris.
One of the five new suspects is considered a “main target” whom investigators “had in our sights.” His DNA was reportedly found at the crime scene, linking him directly to the commando-style team of four men who carried out the heist on October 19. The other four individuals are being held as associates who may have information on how the theft was orchestrated.
These arrests follow the charging of two other men earlier in the week with organized theft and criminal conspiracy. Those two suspects, a 34-year-old Algerian national and a 39-year-old French man, have “partially admitted” to their involvement. They are believed to be the two men who entered the museum’s Apollo Gallery, while two accomplices waited outside.
The 34-year-old was apprehended at Charles de Gaulle Airport attempting to board a one-way flight to Algeria; his DNA was found on a scooter used in the getaway. The 39-year-old’s DNA was found on a smashed display case.
Despite the widening dragnet, the priceless loot, valued at €88 million ($102 million), remains missing. The stolen items include eight pieces of the French crown jewels, such as a diamond-and-emerald necklace given by Napoleon to Empress Marie-Louise.
The seven-minute robbery exposed significant security flaws at the world-famous museum. The gang, disguised as maintenance workers, used a stolen furniture lift to access a first-floor window, cut into two display cases with power tools, and fled on motor scooters along the Seine. Investigators have so far found no evidence of an inside job, but are not ruling out a wider network or a wealthy backer who may have commissioned the theft.