Jewel Heist at Louvre Museum: Two Suspects Arrested After €88 Million Robbery

Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the daring jewel heist from Paris’ Louvre Museum, authorities confirmed on Sunday. The arrests come a week after thieves stole priceless French crown jewels in a meticulously executed robbery that shocked the world.

According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, the arrests took place on Saturday evening, with one suspect caught attempting to leave France via Charles de Gaulle Airport. Officials have not confirmed whether any of the stolen jewels have been recovered. The theft, valued at an estimated €88 million, remains one of the most audacious museum robberies in modern history.

Massive Police Operation After Louvre Museum Robbery

French prosecutor Laure Beccuau revealed that over 100 investigators from the country’s specialized armed robbery and art theft unit have been mobilized to track the perpetrators and recover the jewels. She criticized early media leaks, warning that they could compromise the ongoing investigation. French networks BFM TV and Le Parisien reported that both suspects are currently in custody.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised the “tireless work” of investigators, noting their rapid progress in a case that drew global attention. “They have my full confidence,” Nunez said, adding that the focus now shifts to recovering the stolen artifacts intact.

The heist unfolded in under eight minutes early last Sunday morning. Thieves used a basket lift to scale the Louvre’s façade, forced open a window, smashed several glass cases, and escaped before security could respond. Museum officials have since described the event as a “terrible failure” in security protocol.

The Stolen Crown Jewels and Cultural Shock

The stolen collection included eight royal objects, among them a sapphire diadem, an emerald necklace, earrings linked to Empress Marie-Louise, and Empress Eugénie’s diamond corsage brooch. One remarkable piece — Eugénie’s emerald-set imperial crown, embedded with over 1,300 diamonds — was later found outside the museum, damaged but restorable.

The theft triggered a wave of national outrage and sorrow. Many compared the loss to the burning of Notre Dame Cathedral in 2019, calling it another wound to French cultural heritage. “It’s important for our heritage,” said Louvre visitor Freddy Jacquemet. “It’s late, but at least they caught the guys.”

Public Reaction and Next Steps

As the Louvre reopened its doors this week, Parisians and tourists alike expressed both relief and frustration. “The main thing now is whether they can recover the jewels,” said visitor Diana Ramirez. “That’s what really matters.”

Authorities have not ruled out the involvement of an international network, and further arrests may follow. The investigation continues as experts assess how the thieves managed to breach one of the world’s most secure museums so quickly.

The arrests mark a breakthrough in the ongoing probe into the Louvre Museum robbery — a crime that exposed vulnerabilities in one of France’s most treasured institutions and underscored the global black market’s hunger for royal artifacts.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What was stolen in the Louvre Museum jewel heist?

Eight royal artifacts, including diadems, necklaces, and brooches linked to French empresses and queens, worth about €88 million, were taken.

Q2: Have police recovered the stolen jewels?

As of now, most jewels remain missing. Only one damaged crown was recovered outside the museum shortly after the heist.

Q3: How did the thieves execute the robbery?

They used a basket lift to scale the museum’s façade, broke a window, smashed display cases, and escaped within eight minutes.

Q4: When did the Louvre jewel heist happen?

The robbery occurred on the morning of Sunday, October 19, 2025, before the museum opened to the public.

Q5: Who confirmed the arrests?

The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrests on Saturday evening, October 25, 2025, following a week-long investigation.