According to Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, five new suspects have been arrested over the theft of France’s crown jewels from the Louvre museum.
This brings the total number of arrests over the stunning heist to seven.
Beccuau noted that of the five new suspects, one is believed to have been part of the four-man gang who carried out the heist.
This means that, following an 11-day manhunt, police have now arrested three of the four men they believe participated directly in the heist, disguising themselves as construction workers to steal artifacts dating to the Napoleonic era.
The latest arrests took place on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, night in Paris and in the surrounding region, including in Seine-Saint-Denis. Beccuau said the suspects have been detained in separate police stations in the Paris area, including the Seine-Saint-Denis region.
Other details of the five arrests, including the suspects’ identities, were not immediately available.
News of the latest arrest came a day after prosecutors said that the two other suspects had “partially” admitted to charges of theft and conspiracy.
The first two suspects were arrested last weekend, just as one was reported to be trying to flee to Algeria from the Charles de Gaulle airport near Paris.
Those two suspects were placed under formal investigation for organized theft and criminal conspiracy. Beccuau announced late Wednesday that the pair has “partially admitted” its involvement following 96 hours of questioning.
The first suspect, 34, is of Algerian nationality. He had prior records for traffic-related offenses and was identified through DNA recovered from one of the scooters.
The second suspect, 39, is an illegal taxi driver and delivery driver born in Aubervilliers, a suburb of Paris. He was previously known to police for aggravated theft. His DNA was found on glass that had been broken from one of the display cases, according to prosecutors.
The prosecutor said that the crime of theft as part of an organized gang carries a potential 15-year prison sentence and a heavy fine.
More than 100 investigators have been involved in the manhunt, and authorities were able to track down the individuals after analyzing more than 150 DNA samples and examining several items the group left behind, such as gloves, a helmet and high-vis jackets left at the scene.
Looted Louvre Treasures Yet To Be Uncovered
Meanwhile, Beccuau said that the investigation had yet to uncover any of the looted treasures, estimated to be worth 88 million euros ($102 million).
Experts say the jewels, among them an emerald necklace set with more than 1,000 diamonds gifted by Napoleon to his second wife, were likely to be dismantled for their raw materials.
“I’d like to keep the hope that they will be found and could be returned to the Louvre museum and the nation.
“These jewels are now unsellable. Anyone who buys them would be guilty of the offence of handling stolen goods. There is still time to return them.”
Laure Beccuau
The heist has captured the world’s attention and raised uncomfortable questions about security arrangements at France’s most-visited museum.
Laurence des Cars, the Louvre’s Director, admitted to the French Senate that no security cameras were monitoring the second-floor balcony where the thieves broke into the Apollo Gallery using an angle grinder on October 19, 2025.
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