Five More Arrests in Louvre Jewel Heist Investigation

Major Breakthrough in Louvre Jewelry Theft Case

French authorities have made significant progress in the investigation of the spectacular Louvre jewelry heist, with five additional suspects arrested in connection with the €88 million theft. The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed the arrests late Wednesday, bringing the total number of suspects in custody to seven.

DNA Evidence Links Suspect to Crime Scene

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau revealed to RTL that one of the newly arrested suspects has been directly linked to the crime through DNA evidence. 'There is DNA evidence that connects him to the committed robbery,' Beccuau stated during her interview. The five individuals were arrested on Tuesday evening and are currently undergoing interrogation by French authorities.

According to prosecutor statements, one suspect is believed to have participated directly in the October 19th robbery alongside three other perpetrators. The roles of the other four individuals remain unclear, though investigators suspect they may have provided logistical support or served as accomplices.

Security Failures Under Scrutiny

The arrests come amid growing revelations about security deficiencies at the world-renowned museum. Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez admitted during a Senate hearing that the Louvre's security systems were not up to standard. 'Outdated systems and slow repair work created major gaps in the Louvre's security,' he testified.

A recent French government audit revealed shocking security lapses, including that one-third of rooms in the Denon Wing and 75% of rooms in the Richelieu Wing lacked CCTV cameras. The report criticized the museum for repeatedly postponing security modernization despite its €323 million annual budget.

The Heist That Shocked the World

The audacious robbery occurred on October 19th when four thieves, disguised as construction workers, used a stolen furniture lift to access the museum's upper floors. They entered through a side window facing the Seine River and completed their mission in under eight minutes, spending only four minutes inside the building itself.

The stolen items included priceless pieces from the French Crown Jewels collection, including jewelry from Empress Marie-Louise and Empress Eugénie. According to museum records, the thieves successfully took eight items valued at approximately €88 million, though they dropped the Crown of Empress Eugénie during their escape.

Ongoing Investigation and Recovery Efforts

Despite the recent arrests, the stolen jewels remain missing. Prosecutor Beccuau confirmed that search operations have so far yielded no results. The investigation involves over 100 investigators working to track down both the perpetrators and the missing treasures.

Louvre director Laurence des Cars had previously offered her resignation to Culture Minister Rachida Dati following the incident, but it was not accepted. The museum has since announced that part of its planned €700-800 million renovation budget will be dedicated to upgrading security systems.

French authorities remain hopeful that the newly arrested suspects will provide crucial information about the robbery's planning and execution. As prosecutor Beccuau noted, 'It is expected that the suspects can provide information about how the events developed.'