Louvre theft: four more arrests in the €88 million heist. The eight royal jewels remain unaccounted for.

The sensational theft occurred on October 19, 2025 The Louvre Museum continues to generate developments and questions. More than a month after the attack—described by French authorities as "simple, blatant, and devastating"—the Paris prosecutor's office has announced four new arrests, who are added to the previous people already indicted. Despite the progress of the investigation, the loot, consisting of eight very precious jewels of the French Crown, remains missing to this day.

New arrests: who are the suspects?

Attorney General Laure Beccuau announced that the latest arrests are two men aged 38 and 39 and two women aged 31 and 40, all residents of the Paris region. According to initial reports, among them is the last member of the commando who actually participated in the theft. The man was located in Laval, Mayenne, during an operation conducted by investigators from the anti-terrorism brigade and immediately transferred to pre-trial detention on serious charges, including aggravated theft by an organized gang and criminal association.

The other three people arrested in the same context are not believed to have taken part in the raid on the museum, but are suspected of having served as logistical support. This brings the total number of suspects in connection with the case to eight.

Previous arrests and first traces

The new arrests add to those already reported in the weeks immediately following the robbery. The first arrests were three men, all known to law enforcement. The most recognizable is Abdoulaye N., also known online as "Doudou cross bitumen," whose DNA was found on broken windows and various items abandoned in the Apollo Gallery. He reportedly admitted involvement in the robbery, but maintained that he was acting on the orders of unidentified individuals.

His alleged accomplice was identified thanks to biological traces found on one of the scooters used in the getaway, while a third suspect, originally from Seine-Saint-Denis, was captured in late October. All three are suspected of having directly participated in the operational phase of the robbery.

A lightning theft in broad daylight

The dynamics of the theft are now clear, and it was precisely its simplicity that shocked the public. It was 9:30 a.m. when four men, dressed as workers with yellow vests, arrived along the Seine aboard a truck. They had mounted a freight elevator on the vehicle, which they used as if it were any other work tool. They hoisted themselves up to the window of the Apollo Gallery, on the museum's first floor, and with small grinders, they cut the glass and gained entry.

Once inside, they acted with astonishing speed: within minutes, they removed the eight pieces of jewelry on display, placed them in the containers they had brought with them, and exited through the same window, using the freight elevator again as if nothing had happened. Two scooters were waiting on the ground, ready to make their getaway. According to investigators' estimates, the entire operation took less than seven minutes. All this happened while several passersby were walking along the river, unaware of the scene unfolding just meters away.

Museum security under scrutiny

The theft exposed a series of serious security flaws at the Louvre, considered one of the most heavily guarded museums in the world. One of the most controversial elements emerged when Prosecutor Beccuau revealed that the password for the internal systems was simply "Louvre": an unforgivable oversight for such a prestigious institution. Added to this was the fact that the area through which the thieves entered was not covered by any cameras, and the window sensors were inadequate to detect such a rapid break-in.

Internal security personnel also took too long to realize what was happening, allowing the commando to leave the area undisturbed. These details have fueled a heated debate in France about museum security, with many experts calling for a complete overhaul of protocols.

The missing loot: an inestimable value

At the heart of the investigation remains the disappearance of the eight French Crown Jewels, estimated to be worth €88 million, although the historical damage goes far beyond any estimate. The stolen pieces belonged to the jewels of French queens and empresses, including Marie-Amélie, Hortense, Marie-Louise, and Eugenie. They include tiaras, necklaces, earrings, and a famous reliquary brooch, all unique, recognizable artifacts that are virtually impossible to legally resell.

Where these objects ended up remains a mystery. Authorities have found no trace of the loot, nor any signs that it may have been moved abroad. Nor have there been any suspicious movements in the international art black market. The possibility of a contract theft, already advanced by some investigators, remains a concrete possibility.

A case that has museums around the world shaking

The attack on the Louvre is not only a severe blow to France's cultural heritage, but also a wake-up call for museums around the world. The idea that a commando could so easily bypass the security of the world's most visited museum has forced many institutions to reevaluate their systems, fearing similar incidents.

The debate is ongoing, and France is under pressure to prevent a similar event from happening again. The Louvre, for its part, is engaged in a review of its internal protocols, while the authorities are trying to maintain maximum secrecy regarding the remaining avenues.

Conclusions: the investigation continues

Despite the arrests and investigative progress, the case remains far from closed. French authorities believe they have reconstructed much of the network involved in the robbery, but two fundamental questions remain: who really planned the robbery, and where did the eight stolen jewels end up?

Until these issues are clarified, the Louvre theft will remain one of the most surprising and mysterious events in the museum's recent history, a case that has shocked France and the world of culture.