Paris Prosecutor to Update on Louvre Jewel Heist Amid Security Debates
Paris prosecutor to provide updates on the Louvre jewel heist investigation amid security concerns and suspect arrests.
- • Two suspects arrested in connection with the €88 million Louvre jewel theft.
- • Robbery executed in under eight minutes using an elevating truck and cutting tools.
- • Security at the Louvre criticized; police station proposal inside museum opposed by police officials.
- • Administrative investigation into museum security to publish findings on October 29.
Key details
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau is scheduled to hold a press conference at 5 PM on October 29, 2025, to provide a detailed update on the high-profile jewel theft at the Louvre Museum. The audacious robbery, executed in under eight minutes on October 19, saw eight crown jewels valued at approximately €88 million stolen, and the precious items remain missing. Two suspects, both in their thirties and from Seine-Saint-Denis, were arrested on the night of October 25. They are currently held in police custody under charges of organized theft and criminal conspiracy, with their detention expected to end soon.
The theft involved the thieves using an elevating truck to access the museum’s roof, breaking a window and the display cases with cutting tools, before escaping on scooters. Interestingly, during their escape, the thieves dropped the crown of Empress Eugénie, which was damaged and will require restoration. More than 150 DNA and fingerprint samples have been collected from the crime scene, and approximately 100 investigators from the Brigade for the Repression of Banditry and the Central Office for the Fight Against the Trafficking of Cultural Goods are actively working on the case.
The case has triggered significant debate over the Louvre's security standards. The president of the Senate's Culture Commission, Laurent Lafon, criticized the museum's security as inadequate and in need of substantial improvements. Culture Minister Rachida Dati acknowledged failures that allowed the robbery to occur. Meanwhile, the Louvre’s president, Laurence des Cars, requested the installation of a police station within the museum to enhance security. This proposal was firmly opposed by Paris police prefect Patrice Faure and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. Faure preferred strengthening perimeter protections, noting that there have been 1,080 police interventions around the Louvre so far this year and emphasizing the presence of 1,300 surveillance cameras, although many remain analog.
Nadia El Bouroumi, the lawyer for one suspect, described the case as "difficult" due to intense media scrutiny affecting her client's mental state and the prospect of a fair trial. An administrative investigation into the museum’s security is expected to release its findings later on October 29.
This press conference by the Paris prosecutor is highly anticipated as authorities seek to provide clarity on the investigation’s progress and address public and official concerns regarding security lapses at one of the world's most visited cultural institutions.