Suspects arrested in connection with theft of crown jewels from Paris’ Louvre museum

Authorities in Paris have arrested suspects linked to the theft of crown jewels from the Louvre Museum, the city’s top prosecutor announced Sunday—one week after the high-profile burglary that drew international attention.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the arrests were made Saturday evening by a specialized police unit that handles major robberies and art thefts. One suspect was detained at Charles de Gaulle Airport while allegedly preparing to flee the country, Beccuau said.

French media outlets BFM TV and Le Parisien reported that two people were taken into custody, though Beccuau did not confirm how many were arrested or whether any of the stolen jewels have been recovered.

The heist unfolded in less than eight minutes last Sunday morning, when thieves scaled the Louvre’s exterior using a basket lift, broke through a window, smashed display cases, and stole jewels worth an estimated €88 million (about $102 million). 

Museum officials called the theft a “terrible failure,” noting that the criminals exploited a narrow window of time before security could respond.