Two new suspects handed preliminary charges in Louvre jewels heist case

French authorities have placed two more suspects under formal investigation in connection with last month’s dramatic daylight jewel heist at the Louvre Museum, bringing the total number charged to four. The theft, carried out in just four minutes inside the famed Galerie d’Apollon, has rocked France and exposed shocking security flaws at what was once called “the fortress of art and history.”

According to Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, the latest suspects, a 37-year-old man known to police for prior thefts and a 38-year-old woman, were charged with organised theft and criminal conspiracy. Both remain in pre-trial detention and deny involvement. Three others arrested alongside them were released without charge. French media reported that the woman hails from La Courneuve, a working-class suburb north of Paris.

The new arrests follow those of two men from the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb, detained days earlier. One was caught trying to flee France through Charles de Gaulle Airport. Both were already known to authorities for past robberies. A specialised police unit focusing on armed thefts and art crimes is leading the investigation, which now involves more than 100 officers.

The brazen heist occurred on October 19, between 9:30 and 9:34 a.m., moments after the museum opened. Two hooded thieves arrived on scooters, used a freight elevator to reach the Apollo Gallery, and smashed open two display cases with small chainsaws. They made off with nine jewels from the Napoleonic collection, including emerald necklaces, sapphire diadems, and diamond brooches once belonging to Empress Eugénie, Napoleon Bonaparte, and queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.

In a diversionary tactic, the robbers set fire to a truck outside the museum to create chaos during their escape. A quick-thinking employee extinguished the flames before they spread. Within minutes, the thieves vanished into Paris traffic as alarms echoed through the marble halls of the Louvre.

Officials described the operation as “a simple plan executed with extraordinary precision.” The loot, valued at €88 million (USD 102 million), remains missing — except for one recovered piece, the emerald-studded crown of Empress Eugénie, found damaged but identifiable near the museum’s perimeter.

Adding intrigue to the case, another art heist occurred just days later in Lyon, where masked intruders stole paintings and gold artifacts worth over €12 million from a private gallery. Investigators are exploring possible links between the two thefts, suspecting a network of professional art thieves targeting France’s cultural institutions.

As of this week, seven suspects have been arrested in connection with the Louvre robbery, according to AP News and CBS News . However, officials have not confirmed the total number of perpetrators believed to be involved, and some members of the network remain at large.

The investigation is being spearheaded by a renowned young detective, nicknamed “Le Renard” (The Fox) , admired for his sharp instincts and calm demeanor. His 60-member task force is meticulously analyzing CCTV footage, scooter movements, and Interpol data to track the missing jewels and remaining culprits.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised the investigation team, saying, “They have worked tirelessly, with precision and determination — just as I asked them to.”

The Louvre temporarily shut down following the robbery “for exceptional reasons,” amid revelations that parts of its security system were under maintenance that morning. The lapse sparked public outrage and government embarrassment, prompting calls for a full review of museum security nationwide.

The theft has also become a global pop-culture phenomenon, spawning memes, viral ads, and marketing stunts. Brands like Fevicol quipped, “Even art needs stronger bonds,” while security firms promised “Louvre-level protection.”

With four charged, seven arrested, and the main perpetrators still on the run, the investigation has become a race against time. The Louvre’s daylight robbery, with scooters, smoke, and stolen diamonds, feels straight out of The Thomas Crown Affair or The Da Vinci Code , a real-life thriller that reminds the world: even art’s greatest fortress can be breached by audacity and precision.