Five New Suspects Arrested in Louvre Jewellery Heist as Investigation Intensifies

French authorities have made significant progress in the investigation of the October 19, 2025, jewellery heist at the Louvre Museum with the arrest of five new suspects, including one identified as a principal burglar. The arrests, announced on October 30 by Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, took place in Paris's 16th arrondissement and Seine-Saint-Denis. One of the newly arrested individuals has been linked to the crime by DNA evidence, confirming his involvement in the daring robbery.

Earlier, two men aged 34 and 39 had already been charged with organized theft and conspiracy; they partially admitted their roles during police interviews. The 34-year-old suspect is of Algerian nationality with a criminal record involving theft and traffic offenses, while the 39-year-old former clandestine taxi driver, also from Aubervilliers, has past convictions for aggravated theft and was under judicial supervision.

Despite these arrests, the stolen jewellery, valued at an estimated €88 million, remains missing. The loot includes priceless pieces such as an emerald-and-diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon I to Empress Marie-Louise and a diadem that belonged to Empress Eugenie, adorned with nearly 2,000 diamonds. Prosecutor Beccuau expressed hope that the jewels would be recovered and returned to the Louvre and the nation, noting that the items are currently not sellable in their stolen state.

Authorities have mobilized about a hundred investigators from the Brigade de répression du banditisme (BRB) and the Office central de lutte contre le trafic de biens culturels (OCBC) to locate the fourth main perpetrator and other accomplices potentially involved.

The prosecutor emphasized that there is currently no evidence suggesting complicity from within the museum's staff. However, the possibility of a wider criminal network orchestrating the heist remains under investigation. The case has also prompted concerns about the Louvre's security measures, given the museum's status as the world's most-visited cultural institution.

As the inquiry advances, police continue to explore all leads to reclaim the stolen artefacts and bring all those responsible to justice.