Louvre robbery: arrested suspects are among those who broke into the museum; jewelry has not yet been recovered, police say

Video shows simulation of how thieves entered the Louvre The Paris police announced this Wednesday (29) that the two suspects arrested on suspicion of involvement in the historic robbery of the Louvre were among those who broke into the museum. The eight stolen French crown jewels have not yet been recovered, prosecutor Laure Beccuau admitted. ✅ Follow the g1 international news channel on WhatsApp According to the prosecutor, the police found DNA from both suspects at the crime scene — one of them on one of the scooters used in the escape, and the other in the glass chamber that stored the jewelry and was broken during the robbery. The arrests took place over the weekend and the men admitted to being “partially involved” in the crime, Beccuau said, without elaborating on what that meant. On the 19th of this month, thieves invaded the Louvre in broad daylight using a simple crane, broke a window in the Apollo Gallery, which houses items that belonged to French royalty, and stole crown jewels with an estimated value of 88 million euros, the equivalent of more than R$550.2 million. At least four suspects were involved in the crime, which lasted about seven minutes, according to police. (Read more details below) “The jewels, as I speak to you now, are not yet in our possession. I want to remain hopeful that they will be recovered and can be returned to the Louvre Museum and, more broadly, to the nation. These jewels are now, obviously, unsellable — just to reiterate, if necessary, anyone who purchases them will be committing the crime of receiving them. There is still time to return them,” Beccuau said at a press conference. According to prosecutor Beccuau, the two men will be charged with the crime of robbery by an organized gang, punishable by up to 15 years in prison under French law. Beccuau also said that he cannot rule out, so far, the involvement of more people than the four suspects caught in videos of the crime circulating on social media. Photo shows window through which thieves entered the Louvre Museum Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters The director of the Louvre Museum, Laurence des Cars, admitted that there was a “terrible failure” in security in the robbery and said that the museum’s cameras were not covering the window through which the suspects entered. The museum, one of the most famous and most visited in the world, was closed for three days due to the robbery, and reopened to visitors last Wednesday with reinforced and armed security and many tourists. Due to the theft, the French government ordered security to be reinforced around museums and cultural institutions across the country. The theft sparked outrage across France and exposed politicians, government officials and those linked to the museum. The Culture and Interior ministries held emergency meetings earlier this week to discuss the situation. The French Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, classified the case as “deplorable” and said that “we failed”. According to him, the robbery “damaged the image” of the country. French President Emmanuel Macron promised to find the suspects and called on Wednesday for greater security measures to be implemented “quickly” at the Louvre. Louvre reopens for the first time since jewelry theft Visitors line up on October 22, 2025, the day the Louvre Museum reopens after jewelry theft Thibaud Moritz/AFP READ ALSO: VIDEO AND PHOTOS: See Louvre jewelry that was taken by thieves; US$ 60 million diamond was ROBBED: what is known about the crime at the Louvre, which closed the most visited museum in the world MACRON: President of France promises to recover jewels and punish suspects for theft at the Louvre Cinematic robbery at the Louvre Exclusive: Brazilian woman’s video records thieves’ blows on the window of the Louvre Museum The invasion took place around 9:30 am (dawn in Brazil), around 30 minutes after the museum opened. According to French authorities, at least four suspects participated in the robbery. Two invaded the Louvre from the facade facing the River Seine using a crane attached to a truck and broke in a window. The vehicle was parked next to the museum. Inside the Apollo Gallery, thieves broke the display cases to get the jewelry. Then, they fled on a motorcycle with their accomplices. Nine pieces were taken, according to the French Public Prosecutor’s Office, but one of them has already been recovered after being found damaged on a street close to the museum. It is the crown of Empress Eugenia, wife of Napoleon III, made up of 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds. Crown of the French Empress Eugênia, one of the pieces stolen from the Louvre museum on October 19, 2025 Louvre Museum/Disclosure Some of the items that remain missing: Crown with sapphires and almost 2,000 diamonds. Necklace with eight Sri Lankan sapphires and more than 600 diamonds from Queen Consort Maria Amélia. Necklace and earrings of Emperor Maria Luisa, second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, with 32 emeralds and 1,138 diamonds. Brooch with 2,634 diamonds belonging to Empress Eugênia, wife of Napoleon III, acquired by the Louvre in 2008 for €6.72 million – approximately R$42.2 million. Necklace and earrings belonging to the French Empress Maria Luisa, which are among the pieces stolen by thieves from the Louvre Museum, in Paris, on October 19, 2025. Disclosure/ Louvre Museum The most expensive item in the collection was not taken. It is the 140-carat Regent diamond, valued at US$60 million (around R$377 million), according to estimates from the auction house Sotheby’s. Louvre Museum Mona Lisa, the most famous work in the Louvre Museum, in Paris Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world and has more than 33 thousand works in its collection. There are treasures from ancient civilizations, furniture, sculptures and paintings by masters of the arts. The museum received almost nine million visitors last year, 80% of which were foreigners. The Louvre’s biggest star is the Mona Lisa, the most famous work of art in the world. The enigmatic portrait was painted by Leonardo da Vinci, a genius of the Italian Renaissance. The Mona Lisa attracts around 20,000 people daily to the Salle des États, the museum’s largest room. In 1911, the canvas painted by Da Vinci in the 16th century disappeared from its frame, stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia, a former employee who hid inside the museum and left with the work under his coat. The Mona Lisa was recovered two years later in Florence. Also among the main works are Venus de Milo, The Wedding at Cana and the Victory of Samothrace. Infographic: where the jewelry theft took place at the Louvre Museum, in Paris Arte/g1

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