Five More Arrested In Louvre Heist, But Jewels Still Missing

It’s been astir 2 weeks since nan Louvre’s crown jewels vanished successful a daring daylight robbery, and nan investigation has taken different crisp turn. French constabulary person now arrested 7 group successful relationship pinch nan audacious theft that has shocked nan nation.

According to Paris charismatic Laure Beccuau, 5 caller arrests were made overnight, Wednesday 29, adding to nan 2 suspects already successful custody. One of them, identified done DNA evidence, is believed to person been portion of nan four-member squad that pulled disconnected nan heist wrong nan world’s astir celebrated museum.

A theft consecutive retired of a movie

The robbery happened connected October 19 , erstwhile nan thieves collapsed successful done a model into nan Louvre’s Apollo Gallery, location to immoderate of France’s astir precious humanities jewels. Armed pinch powerfulness tools, they sliced unfastened reinforced solid cases and escaped pinch treasures weighted astatine €88 million.

The stolen postulation included a diamond-and-emerald necklace that Napoleon Bonaparte erstwhile talented to Empress Marie Louise, jewels tied to Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense, and Empress Eugénie’s iconic pearl-and-diamond tiara.

“The jewels are not yet successful our possession,” Beccuau told RTL power connected Thursday. “But I want to stay hopeful they’ll beryllium recovered and returned to nan Louvre – and to nan nation.”

Priceless… and unsellable

While nan jewels are gone, trading them won’t beryllium easy. Their historical worth and world nickname make them astir intolerable to move connected nan achromatic market.

“These jewels are now unsellable,” Beccuau warned, urging anyone successful possession of nan items to springiness them back. “Anyone who buys them would beryllium blameworthy of concealing stolen goods. There’s still clip to return them.”

Two suspects arrested earlier this week person already partially admitted their involvement. Both men, aged 34 and 39, were charged pinch theft by an organised pack and criminal conspiracy. One was detained astatine Charles-de-Gaulle Airport pinch a one-way summons to Algeria. Prosecutors opportunity his DNA matched samples recovered connected a scooter utilized successful nan getaway.

Still nary trace of nan jewels

So far, investigators opportunity there’s nary motion of insider thief among Louvre employees, though they aren’t ruling retired nan anticipation of a wider criminal network.

Security footage shows 4 group taking portion successful nan break-in, but constabulary judge much whitethorn person been progressive successful readying aliases hiding nan stolen pieces.

The 2 main suspects person fixed investigators immoderate clues, but nan crown jewels stay missing, leaving some nan authorities and nan French nationalist wondering if they’ll ever beryllium recovered.

Beccuau said she remains hopeful nan historical treasures will beryllium found. “The jewels beryllium not conscionable to nan museum, but to each of France,” she said.

For now, nan enigma of nan Louvre heist continues – a modern-day echo of a classical crime story, played retired nether nan solid pyramid of 1 of nan world’s astir celebrated museums.

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