Two Held in Paris as Hunt Continues Over $102M Louvre Jewel Theft

Post by : Raina Nasser

Paris — Authorities have arrested two men in connection with the October 19 theft that took eight pieces from the French crown jewels at the Louvre. Paris prosecutors say a 34-year-old Algerian national and a 39-year-old man have acknowledged parts of their involvement while investigators continue to seek at least two other suspects believed to be at large.

The break-in was executed in under eight minutes, according to investigators, who say the group used power tools to breach display cases, accessed the gallery via a window with the aid of a freight lift and carried out the operation with striking speed. Video feeds show four individuals in the raid; officials have found no proof to date of internal collusion among museum employees.

Police say the 34-year-old was intercepted at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he tried to depart for Algeria. DNA links reportedly tie him to a scooter used by the thieves, while material recovered at the scene contains DNA matched to the 39-year-old suspect.

The incident exposed weaknesses in the museum's protection systems. Paris Police Chief Patrice Faure acknowledged parts of the surveillance network are outdated and that authorisation for some camera operations expired in July, creating exploitable gaps. A planned $93 million security overhaul, which includes roughly 60 kilometres of new cabling, is not expected to finish until 2029-2030.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed that alarms had triggered during the robbery but said other defensive shortcomings contributed to the theft. Specialists warn the stolen jewels could be dismantled or altered to obscure their origin, complicating recovery efforts.

As searches for the remaining suspects intensify, officials are pressing lawmakers to permit advanced measures such as AI-driven anomaly detection to better protect high-value collections. The Louvre, strained by understaffing and heavy visitor numbers, now faces scrutiny over its safeguarding of national treasures.

The $102 million theft has drawn international attention, combining meticulous planning with evident security lapses as investigators race to trace and recover the stolen pieces.