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Conspiracy

Paris Prosecutor Charges Two New Suspects in Louvre Heist

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said Saturday two new suspects were handed preliminary charges for their alleged involvement in the crown jewels heist at the Louvre museum. The suspects, a 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, were known to authorities for previous thefts and were arrested by police as part of the sweeping investigation. The stolen jewels, valued at around $102 million, have not been recovered and include a diamond-and-emerald necklace given to Empress Marie-Louise by Napoleon. The investigation involves about 100 investigators working seven days a week, with roughly 150 forensic samples analyzed and 189 items sealed as evidence.

Key Takeaways:

  • Two new suspects, a 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman, were charged with theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy in the Louvre heist.
  • The suspects were known to authorities for previous thefts and were arrested by police as part of the investigation.
  • The stolen jewels, valued at around $102 million, have not been recovered and include a diamond-and-emerald necklace given to Empress Marie-Louise by Napoleon.
  • The investigation involves about 100 investigators working seven days a week.
  • The thieves used a freight lift truck to enter the Louvre and cut into two display cases with disc cutters, stealing the jewels in under 8 minutes.
  • There is no sign of insider help at this time, but investigators are not ruling out a wider network beyond the four on camera.
  • In a separate case, six people were arrested on Thursday in connection with a robbery at a gold refining laboratory in Lyon, and the loot has been recovered.

Statistics:

  • $102 million: the estimated value of the stolen jewels.
  • 8 minutes: the time it took for the thieves to steal the jewels.
  • 100: the number of investigators working on the case seven days a week.
  • 150: the number of forensic samples analyzed.
  • 189: the number of items sealed as evidence.
  • 12 million euros: the estimated value of the loot recovered in the Lyon laboratory robbery.

Sources:

  • [The Paris prosecutor's office]
  • [Laure Beccuau, Paris prosecutor]
  • [Adrien Sorrentino, lawyer for the 38-year-old woman suspect]
  • [Laurent Nuñez, French Interior Minister]
  • [Saudi Research and Publishing Co.]

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