Two More Suspects Charged in $102 Million Louvre Jewels Heist, Paris Prosecutor Confirms
PARIS, FRANCE — French prosecutors have charged two additional suspects in connection with the $102 million crown jewels heist at the Louvre Museum, one of the most audacious thefts in recent French history.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed Saturday that a 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were handed preliminary charges for their alleged roles in the October 19 robbery, which saw thieves make off with royal treasures linked to Napoleon and several 19th-century French empresses.
Man Charged With Organized Theft, Woman Accused of Accomplice Role
Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the male suspect faces charges of theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy, while the woman has been accused of being an accomplice. Both have been incarcerated following their arrest earlier this week.
Authorities said the man was already known to police for prior thefts, while his female co-defendant has denied all involvement.
“She does not understand how she is implicated in any of the elements she is accused of,” said her lawyer, Adrien Sorrentino, describing his client as “devastated.”
Despite several arrests, none of the stolen jewels have been recovered.
Historic Treasures Still Missing After 8-Minute Heist
The jewels stolen are estimated to be worth $102 million, including a diamond-and-emerald necklace given by Napoleon to Empress Marie-Louise, and other priceless royal pieces belonging to Queens Marie-Amélie, Hortense, and Empress Eugénie.
Investigators say the four-member team entered the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery using a freight lift, cut into display cases with disc cutters, and fled on two scooters. The entire heist reportedly lasted less than eight minutes.
Authorities credited the near-simultaneous arrival of police and museum security for preventing the thieves from torching the lift and destroying key evidence.
Eight Suspects Now Linked to the Case
Five people were arrested Wednesday in a major police operation involving nearly 100 investigators and 150 forensic samples. Of those, three were released, while two men aged 34 and 39 from Aubervilliers were earlier charged with organized theft and conspiracy.
Those two are believed to be the primary perpetrators, with one caught at Charles de Gaulle Airport holding a one-way ticket to Algeria; his DNA matched evidence found on a getaway scooter.
With the latest arrests, a total of four suspects now face charges in the Louvre heist investigation.
Authorities Praise “Exceptional” Police Mobilization
Prosecutor Beccuau praised the “exceptional mobilization” of law enforcement, noting that investigators are working seven days a week to recover the stolen artifacts and identify all members of the network.
She emphasized that, under France’s “secret d’instruction” law, details of ongoing investigations remain confidential to protect victims’ privacy and preserve the integrity of police work.
Meanwhile, officials stress that no insider involvement has been detected, though they have not ruled out a wider criminal network tied to the robbery.
As France’s most high-profile museum theft in years unfolds, art experts say the disappearance of the Napoleonic-era jewels marks an immense cultural loss. Authorities continue their global search for the missing treasures — and those still behind them.
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