French Cops Arrest Louvre Thieves as Hunt for Mastermind Expands [WATCH]

French authorities have arrested two men accused of stealing nearly $100 million worth of the country’s crown jewels during a daytime robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

The arrests came Saturday night, less than a week after the high-profile heist that stunned security officials and museum visitors.

One suspect, whose name has not been released, was taken into custody at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Algeria, according to Le Parisien.

The second was arrested later the same evening in Paris.

Both men are in their 30s and are from Seine-Saint-Denis, a suburb north of the capital.

Authorities said the men were detained as part of an investigation into “organized gang robbery” and “conspiracy to commit a crime.”

Two additional suspects remain at large, and police have yet to recover the missing jewels.

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According to BFMTV, investigators received a tip Saturday that one of the suspects was planning to leave the country.

Officers moved quickly, apprehending him at the airport before he could board his flight.

French police believe the pair are experienced criminals with histories of theft and may have been hired to carry out the robbery on commission.

The Louvre heist took place last week when four masked individuals dressed in yellow safety vests and motorcycle helmets used a cherry picker to access the museum’s Apollo Gallery.

Once inside, they shattered reinforced glass cases with chainsaws and seized eight pieces from the French Crown Jewels collection.

Witnesses reported that the operation lasted less than four minutes before the thieves fled the scene.

The stolen pieces include a sapphire diadem, a necklace, and an earring set associated with 19th-century Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.

Thieves also made off with Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch, items known for their exceptional historical and artistic value.

During their escape, the suspects attempted to destroy the cherry picker by setting it on fire before fleeing on two scooters parked nearby.

While most of the jewelry remains missing, one item—Eugénie’s emerald-set imperial crown—was later discovered outside the museum, damaged but salvageable.

Investigators have gathered substantial forensic evidence from the scene.

Police officials said they collected nearly 150 DNA samples, fingerprints, and hair strands across several locations linked to the suspects.

Hair believed to belong to one of the thieves was discovered in a motorcycle helmet discarded near the museum, along with yellow vests matching those used in the operation.

The two arrested men are being held at police headquarters in Paris, where they can remain in custody for up to 96 hours before formal charges are filed.

Authorities have not released information about the remaining suspects or the individual believed to have masterminded the theft.

In response to the incident, France’s Ministry of Culture has tightened security across major museums and cultural institutions.

The remaining Crown Jewels have been transferred from the Louvre to a secure vault managed by the Bank of France.

A preliminary report from France’s Court of Auditors, scheduled for public release in November, found that the Louvre’s video surveillance systems were outdated and inconsistent across its galleries.

The document also revealed that security spending at the museum had declined significantly compared to two decades ago, according to El País.

France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez praised law enforcement for their swift action in the arrests.

“I extend my warmest congratulations to the investigators who have worked tirelessly as I requested and who have always had my full confidence,” he wrote on X.

“The investigations must continue while respecting the confidentiality of the inquiry under the authority of the specialized interregional jurisdiction of @parquetdeParis. It will be with the same determination!! We keep going!!”

Affaire du #Louvre: j’adresse mes plus vives félicitations aux enquêteurs qui ont travaillé sans relâche comme je le leur ai demandé et qui ont toujours eu toute ma confiance. Les investigations doivent se poursuivre en respectant le secret de l’enquête sous l’autorité de la…

— Laurent Nuñez (@NunezLaurent) October 26, 2025

However, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau criticized the media for publishing details about the arrests, warning that coverage could interfere with the ongoing investigation.

“This revelation can only hinder the investigative efforts of the 100 or so mobilised investigators, both in the search for the stolen jewellery and for all the perpetrators. It is too early to provide any specific details,” Beccuau said.

The investigation remains active as French police continue their international search for the remaining suspects and the missing Crown Jewels.