A Bold Louvre Jewel Heist: Small-Time Crooks or Big-Time Mistakes?
A recent jewel heist at the Louvre museum in Paris has left authorities puzzled. The thieves, who stole jewels worth $102 million, were not the expected professional criminals but rather small-time crooks from the northern suburbs of Paris.
The Heist
The robbery occurred on a Sunday morning. Two men used a movers’ lift to reach the second storey of the museum. They smashed a window, cracked open display cases with angle grinders, and fled on scooters driven by two accomplices. The entire operation lasted less than seven minutes.
The Suspects
Authorities have arrested three of the four suspected thieves. Their profiles do not match those of organized crime professionals. Instead, they are local residents from Seine-Saint-Denis, a low-income area north of Paris. The thieves left behind the most precious jewel, Empress Eugenie’s crown, along with tools and other items, leading some to speculate that they were amateurs.
Arrests and Denials
The first two arrests were made a week after the raid:
- A 34-year-old Algerian man
- A 39-year-old man, both from Aubervilliers Both have partially admitted their involvement.
Two more suspects were arrested on October 29 and charged on Saturday:
- A 37-year-old man with a criminal record (11 convictions, including aggravated theft and an attempt to break into an ATM).
- A 38-year-old woman, in a relationship with the 37-year-old man and mother of their children.
Both deny involvement in the heist.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities believe that at least one person is still missing and have not ruled out the possibility of other accomplices. Three people arrested with the couple on October 29 have been freed without charge.
The prosecutor’s office has stated that the thieves do not fit the profile of organized crime professionals. Instead, they are seen as small-time criminals who managed to pull off a high-profile heist. The jewels are still missing, and the investigation continues.