Prosecutor to give update as two men face charges over Louvre heist
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Paris prosecutors will brief the public as two men face possible charges over the $102 million Louvre jewel heist that stunned France.
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People tour the courtyard of Le Louvre museum in the rain Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 in Paris. (AP)
French prosecutors are expected to announce new developments Wednesday in the investigation into the audacious jewel heist at the Louvre Museum earlier this month, in which thieves made off with treasures valued at more than $102 million.
Two suspects, both in their thirties, could face formal charges later today, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed, as their custody period expires this evening. Beccuau is set to hold a press conference at 16:00 GMT to provide an update on the case that has captivated global attention and raised fresh concerns over museum security in France.
High-profile arrests amid expanding investigation
According to a source close to the case, the two men were arrested on Saturday in Seine-Saint-Denis, just outside Paris. One was reportedly detained at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he was about to board a flight to Algeria.
Both suspects are known to police for previous theft-related offenses.
Beccuau confirmed over the weekend that the arrests were made “on Saturday evening” and that one of the men “was about to leave the country.”
Investigators have been working through more than 150 DNA samples, fingerprints, and other traces left at the scene, as well as extensive footage from public and private security cameras tracking the thieves’ movements in and around the French capital.
A heist in the heart of Paris
The theft took place on the morning of October 19, when four masked men used a cherry-picker truck and cutting tools to break into a first-floor gallery at the world-renowned museum. They fled with a collection of jewels, including an emerald-and-diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon I to Empress Marie-Louise, and a diamond-encrusted diadem once belonging to Empress Eugénie, studded with nearly 2,000 diamonds.
Police recovered a yellow high-visibility vest and a diamond-and-emerald crown dropped during the thieves’ escape by scooter, items now considered key evidence in the investigation.
Cultural shock and security concerns
The spectacular break-in, described by French media as one of the country’s most daring museum robberies in decades, has triggered a wave of debate over the protection of national heritage sites. Louvre director Laurence des Cars acknowledged that security cameras did not adequately cover the thieves’ point of entry, but defended the museum’s multi-million-euro plan to bolster surveillance and infrastructure.
The heist’s global notoriety has even inspired a bizarre Halloween trend in France, with costumes mimicking the burglars’ black balaclavas, tiaras, and yellow vests circulating online.
Just a day after the Louvre robbery, a museum in eastern France also reported the theft of gold and silver coins following a separate break-in, deepening concerns that cultural institutions are being increasingly targeted by sophisticated criminal groups.
As French authorities prepare to unveil new findings, the world watches closely to see whether the investigation will finally shed light on how one of the most secure museums on the planet was breached, and whether the stolen imperial jewels will ever be recovered.
Read more: Chainsaw-wielding robbers steal jewelry from Louvre in Paris
