According to a Paris prosecutor, two individuals allegedly involved in the Louvre jewel heist have partially confessed to their roles and are suspected to be the perpetrators who broke into the renowned museum. Laure Beccuau stated at a press conference that the two suspects are facing initial charges of theft by an organized group and criminal collaboration.
The culprits managed to steal the jewels, valued at approximately $143 million Cdn, in under eight minutes on October 19, causing a global uproar.
One of the suspects, a 34-year-old Algerian citizen residing in France since 2010, was apprehended at Charles de Gaulle airport as he was preparing to depart for Algeria without a return ticket. The individual, based in Aubervilliers in northern Paris, had a previous record mainly for traffic violations, Beccuau disclosed.
The second suspect, aged 39, was detained at his residence in Aubervilliers. Beccuau clarified that there is no indication of his intention to leave the country. This individual was known to law enforcement for various thefts, and his DNA was found on one of the glass cases where the stolen jewels were exhibited and on items abandoned by the thieves.
Authorities had until Wednesday evening to formally charge, release, or request an extension for the suspects.
Jewels still missing
Beccuau mentioned that the stolen jewels have not been recovered and emphasized that attempting to sell them would constitute receiving stolen property.
She warned, “It’s still time to give them back.”
Earlier on Wednesday, French police acknowledged significant vulnerabilities in the Louvre’s security measures, transforming the audacious daylight theft into a moment of reflection on France’s safeguarding of its cultural heritage.
Paris Police Chief Patrice Faure informed Senate members that outdated systems and slow upgrades had left weak points in the museum’s security.
He highlighted the lack of technological advancements, particularly noting that parts of the video surveillance network were still analog, resulting in low-quality images that were not promptly shareable in real-time.
Faure stated that a comprehensive overhaul, a project costing $93 million US and requiring around 60 kilometers of new wiring, would not be completed before 2029–2030.
Police first alerted by cyclist
Faure revealed that the Louvre’s authorization to operate its security cameras had expired quietly in July and was not renewed, an administrative oversight viewed as indicative of broader negligence after the thieves breached the museum’s security.
He mentioned that although police arrived swiftly at the scene, there were delays in the initial detection and communication processes, from museum security to the emergency line and police command.
The first alert to the police was not triggered by the Louvre’s alarms but by a cyclist outside who contacted emergency services upon witnessing individuals with a basket lift near the museum.