French authorities have arrested two men in connection with the audacious daylight theft of crown jewels from the Louvre Museum, marking the first major breakthrough in what has been dubbed the “heist of the century.”
According to reports from Le Parisien and other French media outlets, the suspects, both from the Parisian suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis, were taken into custody earlier this week.
One was detained at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he attempted to board a flight out of the country, raising suspicions of a planned escape.
Investigators believe the men, both around 30 years old, were part of a four-member gang that carried out a meticulously planned seven-minute operation inside the world-famous museum.
The thieves made off with jewels worth an estimated 102 million dollars, including an emerald-and-diamond necklace once gifted by Napoleon to Empress Marie-Louise.
During their escape, the robbers reportedly dropped a diamond-and-emerald crown but managed to flee with eight other priceless items.
Surveillance footage released earlier this week shows two of the suspects dressed in construction uniforms, using a hydraulic lift to flee the scene moments after the theft.
The robbery, executed in broad daylight as visitors moved through nearby galleries, has caused national outrage and embarrassment. France’s Justice Minister described the incident as a “catastrophic security failure,” admitting that the museum’s protection systems “failed” at every level.
Authorities are still searching for two additional suspects believed to have masterminded the operation. The recovery of the stolen jewels remains uncertain, though investigators say the arrests could lead to crucial information about their whereabouts.
The Louvre has since tightened its security protocols, while public debate continues over how one of the world’s most guarded museums became the stage for such a stunning crime.
