French Police Make Multiple Arrests After Two Major Heists in Late 2025
French authorities have arrested multiple suspects following dramatic heists at the Louvre and a Lyon gold refinery, recovering stolen goods and continuing investigations.
- • Six suspects arrested near Lyon following a €12 million gold refinery heist using explosives, with stolen gold recovered.
- • Five employees injured in the refinery explosion during the heist.
- • Five additional arrests related to the €88 million Louvre jewelry theft, totaling seven arrests so far.
- • A 39-year-old suspect linked to the Louvre theft awaits court for an unrelated charge; DNA connected him to the crime scene.
Key details
French authorities have made significant progress in two high-profile robberies that shook the nation in late 2025. The most widely reported incidents include a daring €88 million jewelry theft at the Louvre Museum and a €12 million gold refinery heist near Lyon.
On October 19, thieves accessed the Louvre's Gallery of Apollo through a mechanical lift and stole crown jewels worth €88 million. Police investigations linked a 39-year-old clandestine taxi driver from Aubervilliers to the heist through DNA evidence found on broken display cases and abandoned items. Despite facing previous convictions for aggravated theft, the suspect is not under judicial control for this case but will face court on an unrelated charge of damaging a police station mirror during custody. Additionally, police have arrested five more individuals connected to the Louvre case, bringing the total arrests to seven, though a fourth suspect remains at large.
Separately, on Thursday near Lyon, a group of thieves used explosives to break into Pourquery Laboratories, a precious metals refinery, stealing gold valued at €12 million. The explosive entry injured five refinery employees. After a dramatic police chase, six suspects were captured, and the stolen gold was recovered. Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with videos circulating on social media showing suspects loading briefcases into a white van under armed guard.
The two cases demonstrate the scale and audacity of recent criminal activity in France, attracting intense police scrutiny. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed ongoing investigations attempting to unravel these elaborate crimes. The arrests related to the Louvre theft underscore the complexity of the case, while the swift recovery of gold in the Lyon incident highlights effective police response.
Authorities continue to search for one remaining suspect involved in the Louvre robbery, emphasizing the ongoing nature of these investigations.
These episodes expose vulnerabilities in security at high-value targets in France and have captured nationwide attention due to their scale and sophistication.