Two more suspects charged in $102 million crown jewels heist at the Louvre

Two more suspects were charged on Saturday in connection with the crown jewels heist at the Louvre. According to The Associated Press a 37-year-old was charged with theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy, and a 38-year-old woman is accused of being an accomplice. — Image credit: AP Photo/Emma Da Silva

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Summary

Two suspects charged in Louvre crown jewels heist

A 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were charged with theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy in connection with the $102 million robbery at the Louvre. Both denied involvement.

Multiple arrests made in Paris suburbs

Five suspects were arrested Wednesday in Seine-Saint-Denis, followed by two more on Saturday, Oct. 25.

Daring daylight theft took under 8 minutes

The Oct. 19 heist saw thieves cut through a window and steal eight imperial jewelry pieces.

Full story

Two more suspects were charged on Saturday in connection with the crown jewels heist at the Louvre. According to The Associated Press a 37-year-old was charged with theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy, and a 38-year-old woman is accused of being an accomplice.

Both denied involvement in the robbery.

On Wednesday five were arrested in the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris. Two others were arrested last Saturday. The two men, ages 34 and 39, were charged this week with theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy.

The AP reported the two men arrested on Oct. 25 are believed to be the men who forced their way into the gallery. One was arrested at Charles-de-Gaulle airport in Paris with a one-way ticket to Algeria. Authorities said his DNA matched a scooter used in the getaway.

Thieves carried out a daylight heist on Oct. 19. They made off with priceless jewels in an operation authorities described as both swift and highly professional.

Investigators claimed the entire operation took under eight minutes from the moment the suspects cut through a window to the moment they vanished.

The thieves got away with eight imperial jewelry pieces, including a sapphire diadem, an emerald necklace and a corsage brooch belonging to Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III. The jewels are worth more than $102 million.

Diane Duenez (Weekend Managing Editor)

Diane Duenez is the weekend managing editor at Straight Arrow News. With over 30 years of experience in journalism, Diane has done just about it all

Cassandra Buchman (Weekend Digital Producer) contributed to this report.

Tags: Louvre, Paris

Why this story matters

The Louvre crown jewels heist highlights challenges in protecting cultural heritage and the sophistication of organized crime targeting high-value assets. The recovery effort and investigation underscore security and law enforcement's role in safeguarding priceless artifacts.

Cultural heritage crime

The theft of crown jewels from the Louvre raises concerns about the vulnerability of important cultural artifacts and the ongoing threat that art and heritage crimes pose to historical collections.

Organized crime involvement

Authorities characterized the jewel theft as a highly professional operation carried out by an organized gang, illustrating the capabilities and planning of criminal networks targeting high-profile assets.

Law enforcement response

The swift arrest of suspects and ongoing investigation underscore the importance of coordinated law enforcement efforts in responding to and preventing major art thefts and recovering stolen valuables.