On Oct. 19th, France witnessed the Louvre Lupins robbing two Napoleon-era jewelry sets from the Parisian museum. Within a week, half of the four-person robber group went into French custody. Among the arrests also came new evidence of the Louvre’s current security systems. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau has released more details about the case after the suspects’ custody deadline reached on Oct. 29th.
About The Captured Suspects
Investigators arrested two of the crown jewels thieves on the evening of Oct. 24th. Authorities combined CCTV footage, DNA analysis, and phone tracking to find them. According to The Guardian, both suspects are male and are in their thirties.
One was identified as a French-Algerian citizen (34). He attempted to flee to Algeria and was apprehended at Charles de Gaulle Airport. The second suspect (39) was traced to the Aubervilliers suburbs and had his preparations to Mali halted. Both suspects came from Seine-Saint-Denis, which is located north of Paris.
Louvre director Laurence des Cars and the French Senate have confirmed these men are responsible for dropping Empress Eugenie’s crown. They also carry a criminal record of their own. The French-Algerian man had repeated road traffic violations. Prosecutor Beccuau informed the press that the second man had two burglary convictions in 2008 and 2014.
The Louvre Heist Criticised Slow Renovation Plan
The Louvre Heist captured the attention of over 100 investigators due to the lack of security in major displays. The Gallerie d’Apollon (Gallery of Apollo), where the crown jewels were stolen, had no CCTV camera installed. The museum security guards were threatened as well, for the two infiltrators were armed with power tools. Des Cars noted that the museum’s alarms were working properly, but the thieves did not trigger them. The CCTV camera outside the Gallerie d’Apollon also faced west, creating a blind spot at the windows.
Former burglar David Desclos warned about the infrastructure of the historic building for the Louvre’s production podcast. In 2020, he discussed the 1792 heist that later mirrors the 2025 robbery. He explained his findings to the Associated Press: “Have you seen [the museum’s] windows? They’re a piece of cake. You can easily slip through them. Even the roofs-there are plenty of ways to get in.”
The 40-year-old museum’s renovation project is under question for its slow pace. The plan challenged architects to repair and add to the Louvre’s infrastructure for artifact preservation and to prevent overcrowding. Later, French President Emmanuel Macron made it his mission to gather €800 million to extend it for an additional 10 years on January 28, 2025. According to des Cars, only half of the project has reached completion.
Since the incident, Senate Culture Committee president Lauren Lafon is very displeased about the Louvre’s security system not being up to code. “The security requirements were not suitable for a museum worthy of the 21st century and for such a unique site for France,” she expressed to the press. “It is our flagship institution, it must be exemplary, and today [Oct. 28th], it is anything but that.”
Could the Louvre’s Understaffing Play A Part?
Before the heist, the Louvre struggled to stay afloat when its staff went on strike back on Jun. 15th. According to CBC, museum operators reported their exhaustion while managing 30,000 visitors per day. Even with President Macron’s renovation plan, employees expressed that they don’t have 10 years to wait.
CGT-Culture Union’s Sarah Sefian also expressed that worker protection is vital. “We can’t wait six years to help,” she told CBC. “Our teams are under pressure now. It’s not just about the art-it’s about the people protecting it.”
The Mona Lisa room, Salle de Éstas, can pact up to 20,000 people. Tourist Ji-Hyun Park shared his experience, showing concerns about overcrowding conditions. “You don’t see the painting. You see phones. You see elbows. You feel heat and then you’re pushed out.”
Des Cars was forced to close the Louvre’s doors to prevent overworking the staff. As strikes continued in September, other museums and cultural monuments also witnessed nationwide strikes. Workers rebelled against French Prime Minister François Bayrou, who proposed an estimated government spending cut of €44 billion. Part of the plan included scrapping two national holidays and freezing pensions and welfare payments.
From that time, the Louvre reopened with certain sections closed off. France’s museum strikes carried over to October. Few museums followed the des Cars’ direction despite being understaffed. It’s believed that the museum’s negligence in its renovations and the employees’ actions made the Oct. 19th heist a success.
The Search Continues
The two captured Louvre Lupins have partially admitted their roles in the heist. Prosecutor Beccuau reported that neither suspect had the stolen Napoleon-era jewels at the time of arrest. They may face a 25-year prison sentence for organized theft and criminal conspiracy.
The remaining two thieves have their information disclosed during this time of the investigation. Interpol announced that Germany’s Federal Criminal Police will assist in the investigation. Since 2023, the FCP has dedicated its officers to stopping organized crime, including money laundering schemes. The €88 million jewelry collection now has the possibility of being sold outside France.
To anyone who may spot the missing crown jewels of Empress Eugenie and Empress Marie-Louise, contact Interpol by scanning their QR code on their website.
