On Saturday night, authorities arrested two men suspected of orchestrating a $100 million heist of French crown jewels at the Louvre. One of the suspects was apprehended while attempting to leave the country.
Reports from a Paris newspaper indicate that one suspect, whose identity hasn’t been disclosed, was caught at Charles de Gaulle airport as he prepared to board a flight to Algeria.
The two men, hailing from Seine-Saint-Denis, a suburb in northern Paris, were taken into custody amid an investigation focusing on “organized gang robbery” and “criminal conspiracy.”
Police received a tip on Saturday about one suspect’s imminent departure for Algeria, leading to the arrests. Shortly thereafter, the second suspect was detained in Paris.
It’s noted that the suspects were already on law enforcement’s radar due to previous heists and allegedly executed this audacious robbery on behalf of associates.
Last week, a group of four individuals, clad in yellow vests and motorcycle helmets, executed a brazen break-in at the renowned museum, securing items from France’s Crown Jewels.
Using cherry pickers, they accessed the Apollo Gallery and then employed chainsaws to shatter the glass cases, all while onlookers watched in shock.
This quick operation lasted under four minutes, resulting in the theft of eight French crown jewels valued at around $100 million. The stolen items included a sapphire crown, a necklace, and an earring from a 19th-century collection linked to Queen Marie Amélie and Hortense.
In their rush, the thieves used the cherry picker to descend but attempted to torch the vehicle during their escape.
The stolen items included Empress Eugénie’s diamond crown and a large brooch, both known for their exquisite craftsmanship. While Eugénie’s crown, adorned with emeralds and over 1,300 diamonds, was later discovered outside the museum, it had sustained some damage but can be repaired.
