Two Suspects Partially Confess in Louvre Jewelry Heist

Two individuals detained in connection with last week’s high-profile jewelry theft at the Louvre Museum have partially confessed to their involvement, French prosecutors confirmed Wednesday, while the stolen treasures remain missing.

The robbery, which occurred on October 19, targeted the museum’s Apollo gallery, home to French royal jewels valued at €88 million, drawing global attention. Laurence Piquet, the Paris public prosecutor, said at a press conference that the two men arrested last Saturday are believed to be the main perpetrators who broke into the world’s most visited museum.

“Two of the four suspects arrested have been referred to an investigating judge and face preliminary charges of theft within an organized gang and criminal conspiracy. They partially admitted involvement in the theft during questioning,” Piquet said.

One suspect, a 34-year-old Algerian national living in France since 2010, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport while preparing to fly to Algeria. He resided in Aubervilliers, north of Paris, and worked as a delivery driver. Authorities say he has a minor criminal record, primarily traffic violations.

The second suspect, 39, was arrested in the same suburb and had no plans to leave the country. He previously worked as an unlicensed taxi driver and delivery driver and is known for past theft-related offenses. Piquet noted that DNA evidence collected from a display case and tools left behind at the scene was key in securing their arrests.

Despite the confessions, the stolen jewels remain unaccounted for. Piquet stressed, “These jewels cannot be sold at the moment… there is still time for them to be returned.”

According to investigators, the thieves executed the heist in seven minutes. Early on the morning of October 19, they stopped a truck equipped with a crane near the museum, climbed into the Apollo gallery, broke a display case and a window, and fled on motorcycles with eight royal jewels.

The investigation involves around 100 detectives from the French Criminal Investigation Department and the Central Office for Combating Trafficking in Cultural Property, all working to apprehend the remaining suspects.

Authorities have described the theft as unprecedented. Not only were the stolen items irreplaceable cultural treasures, but the incident has also prompted the Louvre to review its security, insurance, and monitoring protocols at the sprawling museum, which covers approximately 73,000 square meters and attracts the largest number of visitors worldwide.