French police have made several arrests in connection with last week’s jewelry theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris, authorities said on Sunday, though they did not specify the number of people taken into custody.
The heist, carried out by four individuals, involved the theft of royal diadems, necklaces, and earrings valued at over $100 million. Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that the arrests were made on Saturday evening, including one suspect detained at Roissy–Charles de Gaulle Airport as he attempted to flee the country.
It remains unclear whether police have recovered any of the stolen jewels. The arrests mark a major breakthrough in a case that drew attention to security lapses at the world’s most visited museum.
The theft, which occurred in broad daylight, reportedly involved thieves disguised as workers who used a truck-mounted lift to reach the second floor of the Louvre. They then used power tools to break a window, accessed a gallery, and stole eight crown jewels before escaping on motor scooters — all within ten minutes.
The arrests were first reported by French media citing anonymous sources, catching officials by surprise.
“I deeply regret the premature disclosure of this information,” said Beccuau in a statement, adding that the leak could hinder “around 100 investigators mobilized to recover the stolen jewels and apprehend all those involved.”
She added that it was still too early to release further details, but promised updates once interrogations of the suspects are completed.
