Two men arrested in connection with this month’s Louvre museum jewel heist in Paris will face charges of theft and criminal conspiracy, prosecutors confirmed Wednesday.
Investigators have been pursuing four suspects who used a cherry-picker truck and cutting tools to break into a first-floor gallery at the world-famous museum on October 19, fleeing with jewelry valued at more than $102 million.
The suspects are expected to appear before magistrates for charges of organized theft, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years, and criminal conspiracy, punishable by up to 10 years, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said. She added that the men had “partially admitted to the charges.”
Beccuau noted the stolen jewels “have not yet been recovered” and said, “I want to maintain hope that they will be recovered.”
The two men, arrested in the Paris area, are accused of entering the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery while their accomplices waited outside. One suspect is a 34-year-old Algerian national living in France. The other is a 39-year-old resident of Aubervilliers, a Paris suburb. Both were already known to authorities.
Few details have been released on how investigators tracked down the men, who reportedly wore balaclavas and high-visibility vests during the daylight heist. One suspect was detained at Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to board a flight to Algeria, a source close to the case said.
Beccuau confirmed the arrests took place Saturday evening and that “one of the men arrested was about to leave the country.”
Investigators have been examining “150 DNA samples, fingerprints and other traces,” according to Beccuau, and used public and private security cameras to track the suspects “in Paris and in surrounding regions.” While the investigation has confirmed four perpetrators, officials have not ruled out “a broader level involving a backer or individuals who may have been intended recipients.”
Among the stolen items was a diamond- and emerald-studded crown once owned by Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. The crown was dropped during the escape and recovered, though restoring it would be “delicate,” Beccuau said, citing the Louvre’s director.
The thieves also took eight other pieces, including an emerald-and-diamond necklace given by Napoleon I to Empress Marie-Louise and a diadem once owned by Empress Eugenie featuring nearly 2,000 diamonds.
The audacious theft has inspired Halloween costume trends featuring black balaclavas, tiaras, and bright yellow vests, and reignited debate in France about museum security. Less than 24 hours after the break-in, another museum in eastern France reported a theft of gold and silver coins after a display case was smashed.
Louvre director Laurence des Cars acknowledged that security cameras did not fully cover the thieves’ entry point but defended a multi-million-dollar plan to upgrade museum security.