🔗 Share this article

A further quartet of individuals have been detained as part of the ongoing investigation into the previous robbery of priceless jewelry at the Louvre Museum, according to the Paris prosecutor's office.

Details of the Newest Arrests

Two male suspects, 38 and 39 years old, and two female individuals, 31 and 40 years of age, were taken into custody this Tuesday. All are from the greater Paris area.

Included in this group is thought to be the final member of a group of four that is said to have performed the daytime theft, as reported by local news outlets. The other three alleged robbers are already in custody and formally accused, officials say.

Police now have as much as 96 hours to question them. No trace has so far been found of the pilfered gems - valued at eighty-eight million euros - which were stolen on October 19th.

Earlier Indictments and Disavowals

Four people have already been charged over the heist - three men and a woman, who also live in the greater Paris.

A woman in her late thirties was formally accused earlier in the month with complicity in organised theft and illegal conspiracy intended to carry out unlawful acts.

Separately, a 37-year-old male, was accused of robbery and illegal conspiracy.

Both of these individuals, who have not been named publicly, have denied any involvement.

How the Heist Was Executed

The robbery occurred when the quartet of male perpetrators used a stolen vehicle-mounted mechanical lift to enter the Galerie d'Apollon (Gallery of Apollo) through a terrace adjacent to the Seine.

The thieves utilized a disc cutter to force open display cases containing the jewelry.

The robbers remained within for a mere four minutes and executed their getaway on two scooters stationed outside at 9:38 AM, before switching to cars.

One taken artifact - a crown - was lost during the getaway but eight other items of jewelry - including an emerald-and-diamond necklace that was gifted by Napoleon I his second wife, Marie-Louise of Austria - were taken.

Safeguarding Deficiencies and Fallout

Officials have revealed that the theft was performed by small-time offenders rather than experienced crime syndicates.

In the immediate aftermath of the heist, it was disclosed by the museum's director that the only camera monitoring the Galerie d'Apollon was directed away from the balcony the thieves climbed over to commit the burglary.

The museum's president has subsequently acknowledged that the museum had failed in its obligations, but denied that security had been overlooked - emphasizing that from the moment of her appointment in the year 2021 she had been repeatedly cautioning of the need for more investment.

Improved Safeguarding Protocols

In the wake of the robbery, safeguarding procedures have been strengthened for France's cultural institutions.

Officials have relocated numerous highly prized jewelry items to the Bank of France following the heist.