Two Suspects Admit Partial Involvement in Louvre Jewel Heist

Two men arrested in connection with the recent theft at the Louvre Museum have "partially recognised" their involvement, according to Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau. The suspects, both in their thirties with prior criminal records, were identified through DNA evidence collected during the investigation. One was apprehended while attempting to board a flight to Algeria, while the other was detained within France.

The heist occurred on October 19, 2025, when four individuals used a stolen vehicle-mounted mechanical lift to access the museum's Apollon Gallery via a balcony near the River Seine. They employed power tools to breach display cases, stealing eight pieces of 19th-century jewelry valued at approximately €88 million ($102 million). The thieves fled the scene on scooters, completing the operation in under seven minutes.

Prosecutor Beccuau indicated that the stolen jewels have not yet been recovered and suggested that the criminal network involved may be larger than initially believed. She emphasized the importance of recovering the artifacts, stating, "I want to remain hopeful that [the jewels] will be found and they can be brought back to the Louvre, and more broadly to the nation."

In response to the theft, security measures have been intensified at cultural institutions across France. The Louvre has transferred some of its most valuable jewels to the Bank of France for safekeeping in its secure vaults.

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to identify and apprehend additional suspects involved in the heist.