Two Suspects Arrested in Spectacular Louvre Crown Jewels Heist amid Security Concerns
Authorities have arrested two suspects connected to the swift and daring theft of €88 million in crown jewels from the Louvre, highlighting major security flaws at the museum.
- • Two men arrested in connection with the October 19 Louvre crown jewels theft.
- • Eight crown jewels worth around €88 million were stolen in under eight minutes.
- • One suspect apprehended at Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, another in the Paris region.
- • Investigation involves around 100 officers from multiple specialized units.
- • Prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed serious security dysfunctions at the Louvre.
Key details
Two men have been arrested in connection with the dramatic theft of eight crown jewels from the Louvre Museum, which occurred on October 19, 2025. The heist, executed by a commando of four men, lasted only seven to eight minutes during which the thieves used a lift truck to access the Apollo Gallery, broke a window, smashed display cases, and escaped on powerful scooters with the jewels valued at approximately €88 million.
Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed the arrests on October 25, 2025. One suspect was apprehended at Charles-de-Gaulle Airport while preparing to board a flight abroad, reportedly to Algeria or Mali, and the other was arrested in the Paris region, specifically Seine-Saint-Denis. According to reports, one suspect holds French nationality and the other has dual French-Algerian citizenship. Both men were placed into custody on charges of organized theft and criminal conspiracy. The Brigade de Répression du Banditisme (BRB), aided by the Brigade de Recherche et d'Intervention (BRI), conducted the arrests following days of surveillance.
The investigation involves around 100 officers, including those from the Office Central de Lutte Contre le Trafic de Biens Culturels (OCBC). Authorities continue efforts to recover the stolen artifacts and identify accomplices.
The heist has exposed significant security flaws at the iconic museum, with Prosecutor Beccuau stating, "C'est une évidence, on est face à une série de dysfonctionnement," (“It is obvious, we are faced with a series of dysfunctions”). Sofiane Aboubeker, president of the Union of Security Professions, has called for a thorough analysis of the museum's security protocols to address these failures.
This unprecedented theft has shocked France and raised urgent questions about the safety of priceless cultural heritage housed at the Louvre Museum.