Louvre Heist Probe Widens With Five New Arrests as Key Suspects Emerge
The Louvre jewel heist case just got a lot more serious. On October 29, 2025, French authorities arrested five more people tied to the $102 million robbery, which stunned Paris just weeks earlier. This brings the total arrests to seven, with four now officially charged.
Two of the five newly arrested suspects were charged on November 1. The Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, confirmed a 37-year-old man and his 38-year-old partner are now in deep legal trouble. Both deny any involvement, but investigators aren’t buying it.
DNA Clues and Criminal Ties
The man, already known to police, has been charged with organized theft and conspiracy. He is now in pre-trial detention. His DNA was found in the basket of the lift used during the heist. Authorities believe he was the third member of the four-person team that carried out the robbery.
His partner was charged with complicity. She lives with him and their kids in La Courneuve. Her DNA was also found on the lift, though it might have been transferred secondhand. Her lawyer says she is devastated and innocent, but the case against her is moving forward.
GTN / The three other people picked up on October 29 have been released without charge. Still, the investigation is tightening.
With forensic evidence stacking up and more suspects emerging, police are piecing together exactly who did what that morning inside the Louvre.
How the Heist Went Down
So, how did they pull it off? It started nine days before the heist, in a town north of Paris called Louvres. That is where the team lured a mover using a fake classified ad. When the mover arrived, they ambushed him and stole his lift truck, the very one used in the robbery.
That truck was key. On the day of the heist, it was rolled into position outside the museum’s Apollo Gallery. At exactly 9:30 AM, the lift rose to a high window. By 9:34 AM, the glass was smashed. Four minutes later, the thieves had broken into the cases and made their escape.
However, they didn’t vanish clean, though. In their rush, the thieves left behind a pile of gear, including a helmet, a saw, gloves, a walkie-talkie, and even a reflective vest. This was gold for investigators. Police collected 150 forensic samples from the scene and sealed nearly 190 items as evidence.
This forensic treasure trove is how they tracked suspects. DNA analysis and phone records connected at least three of the four suspected team members to the crime scene.
E Online / Aside from one damaged crown dropped during the escape, none of the stolen items have turned up. The missing collection includes priceless pieces from French royal history, stolen in broad daylight just 30 minutes after the Louvre opened.
Suspects and Missing Pieces
The first two suspects were caught just days earlier, on October 25. One, a 34-year-old Algerian man, was arrested at the airport trying to flee to Algeria. His DNA matched a scooter used in the escape. The second, a 39-year-old man, had DNA on a display case and other tools left behind.
Both admitted some involvement. Their arrests cracked open the case and led to the new charges this week. That brings us to three confirmed members of the heist team in custody. But one is still missing. Police believe the fourth member may be on the run or in hiding.
Prosecutors say it is likely the jewels can’t be sold. Their fame makes them problematic on the black market. They are instantly recognisable, traceable, and tied to one of the most iconic museums on Earth. Those who have them are sitting on $102 million in problems, not profit.