Two individuals involved in the Louvre jewelry theft have partially confessed to their roles and are suspected to be the perpetrators who forcibly entered the renowned museum, as stated by a Paris prosecutor on Wednesday. The prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, revealed in a press briefing that the two suspects are facing initial charges related to theft by an organized group and criminal conspiracy.
The theft of jewels valued at around $143 million Cdn occurred on October 19, with the thieves completing the operation in less than eight minutes, causing global astonishment. One of the suspects is a 34-year-old Algerian citizen who has resided in France since 2010. He was apprehended at Charles de Gaulle airport on Saturday while attempting to board a flight to Algeria without a return ticket. The individual lived in the northern suburb of Aubervilliers in Paris and was primarily known to law enforcement for traffic violations.
The second suspect, aged 39, was also arrested in Aubervilliers on the same night. Beccuau mentioned that there is no evidence suggesting his intention to leave the country. This individual had a history of thefts, and his DNA was discovered on one of the glass showcases from which the jewels were taken and on items left behind by the thieves.
Authorities had until late Wednesday to formally charge the suspects, release them, or request an extension from a judge.
The stolen jewels remain unrecovered, according to Beccuau, who emphasized that the items are unsellable, and anyone purchasing them would be complicit in concealing stolen property. She urged for the return of the stolen jewels.
French law enforcement acknowledged significant vulnerabilities in the Louvre’s security systems earlier on Wednesday, leading to a national discussion on France’s protection of its cultural treasures. Paris Police Chief Patrice Faure informed Senate members that outdated systems and slow upgrades had left weaknesses in the museum’s security.
Faure mentioned that a planned $93 million overhaul project involving extensive cabling would not be completed before 2029–2030. He also disclosed that the Louvre’s authorization to operate security cameras had lapsed in July and not been renewed, highlighting administrative oversights that contributed to the heist.
The theft has underscored a gap in insurance coverage, as the stolen jewels were not privately insured, and the French state self-insures its national museum collections due to exorbitant premiums. This loss will not result in any financial compensation for the Louvre.
Faure discouraged hasty solutions, rejecting calls for a permanent police presence within the museum and emphasized the need to improve the alert system instead. He proposed utilizing AI-based anomaly detection and object tracking technologies to enhance surveillance capabilities.
The incident has sparked debates on museum security and protection of cultural heritage in France, with concerns raised about potential alterations to the stolen items to evade detection. France is grappling with safeguarding its cultural assets amidst evolving security challenges.