Investigators have discovered two traces of DNA at the Louvre following last weekend’s dramatic $102 million jewel heist. The discovery could mark the first major break in the case.
Officials said forensics teams found DNA on a helmet and a pair of gloves left behind by the suspects, according to ABC News. Now, investigators are analyzing the material in hopes of identifying the thieves.
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How the heist unfolded
The thieves stole eight imperial jewels, including a sapphire diadem, an emerald necklace and a corsage brooch belonging to Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III.
Investigators say the group used an electric ladder and basket to scale the museum’s facade before cutting through a window and smashing display cases inside the Apollo gallery. The entire operation lasted less than eight minutes.
The Louvre, closed for a few days following the heist, reopened to the public on Wednesday.
Louvre director responds
For the first time since the heist, Louvre Director Laurence des Cars addressed French lawmakers, calling the theft “an immense wound.”
“This tragedy deeply shocked museum staff, fellow citizens, and admirers of the Louvre around the world,” des Cars said. “This is an immense wound that has been inflicted on us.”
Des Cars revealed she offered her resignation after the theft, but it was rejected. She told France’s Senate Culture Committee that, while the museum’s alarms and video cameras were operational, a “weakness” in perimeter security existed, which she attributed to years of underinvestment.
“Today we are witnessing a terrible failure at the Louvre,” des Cars said. “The security of the Louvre is one of my top priorities during my term of office, and I repeat that I was appalled by the museum’s security situation when I arrived in 2021.”
Des Cars added that improving security remains one of her top priorities.
ABC reports that earlier this week, officials said the evidence collected so far points to “organized crime.” However, investigators have not ruled out the possibility of an inside job.
