Four Charged After $102M Louvre Crown Jewels Heist; One Suspect Still at Large

Summary: Four people have been placed under preliminary charges and jailed in connection with the daring smash-and-grab at the Louvre that resulted in crown jewels worth $102 million being stolen. Authorities say three suspects are believed to have taken part in the museum break-in while a fourth member of the group remains at large.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the suspects appear to have close ties: two were previously convicted together in a 2015 theft case and all live in northern suburbs of Paris. The jewels have not been recovered, and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said investigators are also searching for anyone who may have ordered the operation.

Under French law, names and extensive biographical details have not been released to avoid compromising the investigation.

What investigators have disclosed about each suspect

34-year-old arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport

Authorities say a 34-year-old Algerian national, who has lived in France since 2010 and resides in Aubervilliers, is suspected of being one of two people who entered the Apollo Gallery and used disc cutters to open display cases and steal the jewels. He was arrested on Oct. 25, six days after the heist, at Charles de Gaulle airport as he prepared to fly to Algeria on a one-way ticket.

Police say his DNA matched material found on a scooter used in the getaway. He told investigators he is currently unemployed and previously worked as a garbage collector and delivery driver. He faces preliminary charges of theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy.

39-year-old believed to be the second intruder in the Apollo Gallery

A 39-year-old man, arrested at his Aubervilliers home on Oct. 25, is thought to be the other person who entered the Apollo Gallery. His DNA was found on one of the glass display cases and on items the thieves left behind. He is known to police for several thefts and told investigators he works as an unauthorized taxi driver.

Prosecutors say he is due to stand trial later this month on separate charges related to damage at a detention facility, a case in which he was later cleared. He faces preliminary charges of theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy. Prosecutor Beccuau said both he and the 34-year-old gave minimal statements and partially admitted involvement.

37-year-old with a long record of theft

The third arrested suspect is a 37-year-old man detained 10 days after the heist. Investigators believe he was part of the four-person team that brought a lift truck to the museum, posing as renovation workers so the vehicle could stop near the Louvre entrance. The group reportedly left on two scooters toward eastern Paris.

His DNA was found inside the lift basket. He has 11 previous convictions, 10 of them for theft, and was convicted in the same 2015 theft case as the 39-year-old. He denies involvement but faces preliminary charges of theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy.

38-year-old woman accused of complicity

A 38-year-old woman was arrested the same day as the 37-year-old. She is the longtime partner of the 37-year-old and the couple have children; they live in La Courneuve, another northern suburb near Aubervilliers. Her lawyer says she denies any involvement.

Investigators found a small amount of her DNA on the lift basket, which prosecutors say could be explained by DNA transfer, meaning genetic material she left on a person or object may have later been deposited on the basket. She faces preliminary charges of complicity in theft by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy.

Ongoing investigation: Police continue to search for the missing jewels and for the suspected fourth member of the group, while also investigating who may have organized or ordered the heist. Authorities caution that the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.