By Harshit, Paris, Oct. 30, 2025
French authorities have arrested five additional suspects in connection with the audacious Louvre Museum heist that stunned the art world earlier this month. The arrests, made late Wednesday in the Paris region, bring the total number of suspects in custody to seven, including a man believed to be a key figure in orchestrating the theft.
According to Paris’ public prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, the new suspects were detained during coordinated overnight raids across the metropolitan area. One of them, AFP reported, is considered a main suspect in the daylight robbery that saw the disappearance of eight priceless jewels from the museum’s Apollon Gallery on October 19. The stolen pieces, estimated to be worth €88 million ($102 million), include artifacts once belonging to the French imperial family.
DNA Evidence and Expanding Investigation
Prosecutor Beccuau told French radio station RTL on Thursday that investigators have recovered DNA evidence from the crime scene that may be linked to one of the newly arrested individuals. She said the discovery could be a major step toward identifying the remaining members of the group.
“The DNA trace could confirm one of the participants’ direct presence at the scene,” Beccuau said, adding that the investigation is “progressing in promising directions.”
While the precise roles of the five newly detained individuals remain unclear, Beccuau suggested that they “may eventually inform us about how the incident took place.” French prosecutors have said the gang involved could be larger than the four men seen on CCTV during the heist — potentially including logistical support and handlers who facilitated the thieves’ escape or the sale of the stolen items.
Under French law, the suspects can be held for up to four days before being charged or released, as investigators continue to analyze surveillance footage, communication records, and physical evidence from the museum and surrounding areas.
How France’s Most Daring Museum Robbery Unfolded
On the morning of October 19, at approximately 9:30 a.m., just after the Louvre opened to visitors, four masked men arrived at the museum in a stolen vehicle-mounted mechanical lift, allowing them to access the Galerie d’Apollon — a grand exhibition hall overlooking the River Seine.
The men used disc cutters to break into reinforced glass display cases that held the French crown jewels. Within minutes, they extracted a number of irreplaceable items, including the Marie-Louise necklace, a pair of emerald and diamond earrings, and a gold tiara encrusted with pearls and diamonds that once adorned Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III.
Beccuau confirmed the operation lasted less than four minutes, with the thieves exiting the museum at 9:38 a.m. They fled on two scooters waiting outside the Louvre before abandoning them and switching to getaway cars heading east of the city. Remarkably, no visitors or staff were injured or threatened during the heist.
Security footage from multiple sources has helped investigators piece together the route of escape, though several of the vehicles used were later found burned and abandoned, a common tactic among organized art theft rings.
Previous Arrests and Possible Mastermind
Last week, police arrested two men in their thirties — both with prior criminal records — believed to be directly involved in the theft. One was detained at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he tried to board a one-way flight to Algeria, while the second was apprehended in Paris.
Beccuau clarified that, contrary to some early media speculation, there is no evidence so far of insider involvement at the Louvre. “At this stage, no museum employees are suspected of complicity,” she stated.
The prosecutor also noted that the main suspect arrested Wednesday may be connected to an international network known for art smuggling and jewelry trafficking, raising the possibility that the stolen jewels have already been transported out of France.
Louvre Tightens Security, Treasures Moved Underground
In the aftermath of the heist, the Louvre Museum has implemented heightened security measures at all its exhibition halls and storage areas. Authorities have also coordinated with Interpol and art recovery specialists to monitor international markets for any sign of the missing jewels.
To prevent similar incidents, the museum has transferred several high-value items to the Bank of France, where they are now being stored in a vault 26 meters (85 feet) below ground. The vault, located in the Bank’s historic headquarters in central Paris, is considered one of the most secure locations in Europe.
“This theft was a wake-up call,” said a Louvre spokesperson. “The safety of our cultural heritage is now our absolute priority.”
While investigators remain tight-lipped about the ongoing operation, sources close to the case say that authorities are tracking leads in Belgium and Spain, where art theft syndicates are known to operate.
The Hunt Continues
Despite the seven arrests, the whereabouts of the stolen jewels remain unknown. French officials have expressed cautious optimism that the pieces can be recovered before being disassembled or sold on the black market.
“This case is far from over,” Beccuau said. “We are still searching for at least one suspect and the missing artifacts. Every new arrest brings us closer to understanding the full scope of this operation.”
For now, the world watches as France continues to unravel one of the most dramatic museum robberies in modern history — a theft that has not only shaken the country’s art community but also reignited global discussions about the security of priceless cultural treasures.