Louvre £76m Heist: Paris Prosecutor Says Small‑Time Thieves, Not Organised Gang, Carried Out Raid

Louvre theft blamed on local petty criminals, not an organised syndicate

The Paris prosecutor says the dramatic theft of jewellery from the Louvre was carried out by small‑time local criminals rather than members of a professional organised gang. Jewellery valued at around £76 million was taken in a swift, seven‑minute raid that exposed security vulnerabilities at the museum.

Prosecutors say two men used a movers' lift to reach the museum's second floor, used angle grinders to force open display cases, and fled on the backs of scooters driven by two accomplices. Eyewitness and forensic evidence point to a rapid, improvised operation rather than a highly trained crew.

Arrests and charges

Two people were charged in connection with the heist earlier in the week, and two more were detained and charged on Saturday. Police initially arrested five people but released three without charge.

Authorities identified two of the detained men as likely the intruders: a 34‑year‑old Algerian national, who was stopped trying to board a flight to Algeria, and a 39‑year‑old man already under judicial supervision for aggravated theft. Both men live in Aubervilliers in northern Paris and have "partially admitted" involvement, prosecutors said.

On Oct. 29, a 37‑year‑old man and a 38‑year‑old woman were also arrested and subsequently charged. DNA traces linked the 37‑year‑old to the moving truck used in the operation; he has a recorded history of 11 convictions for offences including traffic violations, aggravated theft and an attempted break‑in at a cash machine. The woman’s DNA was also found in the truck, though prosecutors said it may have been transferred indirectly via a person or object later placed in the vehicle. Both deny involvement.

Why investigators suspect amateurs

French media and investigators highlighted several clues suggesting the thieves were not seasoned professionals: they abandoned the most valuable piece (reported to be Empress Eugénie’s crown), left tools at the scene, and did not destroy the moving truck before fleeing. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau told French outlets:

“This is not quite everyday delinquency... but it is a type of delinquency that we do not generally associate with the upper echelons of organised crime. These are clearly local people. They all live more or less in Seine‑Saint‑Denis.”

Beccuau also warned that at least one suspect remains at large and did not rule out the possibility of further accomplices. Investigations continue, with police following forensic leads and monitoring possible escape routes.

Context

The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of museum security and emergency response procedures. The Louvre, one of the world's most visited museums, houses irreplaceable cultural treasures; the loss and the manner of the raid have raised questions about risk assessment and preventive measures for major cultural institutions.