5 More Arrests Made In Connection With Louvre Jewel Heist

PARIS (AP) — Five more people arrested investigation An investigation into the theft of the royal jewels from the Louvre Museum is ongoing, but the treasures are still missing, the Paris prosecutor announced on Thursday.

The five people were detained late Wednesday night in separate police operations in Paris and surrounding areas, including the Seine-Saint-Denis district, prosecutor Laure Beccuau told RTL radio. He did not disclose their identities or other details.

One of them is suspected of being part of a four-man crew that robbed the Louvre Apollo Gallery in broad daylight on October 19, the prosecutor said. Two other members of the team were arrested Sunday and faced preliminary charges Wednesday on charges of criminal conspiracy and theft by an organized gang. both partially accepted their participationAccording to the prosecutor.

“Searches last night and throughout the night did not allow us to find the goods,” Beccuau said.

It took thieves less than eight minutes to steal 88 million euros ($102 million) worth of jewels, shocking the world. The robbers forced open a window, cut the safes with power tools and escaped eight French crown jewels.

French police have acknowledged major gaps in the Louvre’s defences, turning the spectacular daylight theft into a national reckoning. How does France protect its treasures?.

One of those accused is a 34-year-old Algerian citizen who has been living in France since 2010, Beccuau said. He was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport as he was about to fly to Algeria without a return ticket. He lived in the northern Paris suburb of Aubervilliers and was known to police mostly for traffic offenses. He said his DNA was found on one of the scooters the robbers used to leave the scene.

The other suspect, 39, was arrested at his home in Aubervilliers. Police added that the man was known for several thefts and his DNA was found in one of the glass cases where the jewelery was displayed and on items left behind by the thieves.

Beccuau said security cameras showed at least four people were involved.

Four of the suspects got into a truck equipped with a freight elevator, which two of them used to climb into the museum’s window. He said the four left two motor scooters east of Paris along the Seine River and parked other vehicles there.

Beccuau said there was nothing to suggest the robbers had accomplices among museum employees.

On Wednesday night, he made a plea to those in possession of the jewels: “These jewels can no longer be sold… Anyone who purchases them will be guilty of concealing stolen goods. There is still time to return them.”

Keeping information about investigations confidential under French law is meant to prevent the work of the police from being compromised and to guarantee the privacy rights of victims. Only the prosecutor can speak publicly about the developments, and violators can be prosecuted. Police and investigators are not supposed to release information about arrests or suspects without approval from the prosecutor, but in high-profile cases police union officials have leaked partial details.