French authorities have arrested five additional suspects in connection with the daring theft of France’s crown jewels from the Louvre Museum, bringing the total number of arrests to seven.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed that one of the newly arrested suspects is believed to be part of the four man gang that carried out the October 19 heist. Police have now apprehended three of the four suspected thieves who disguised themselves as construction workers to steal priceless Napoleonic era artifacts.
The jewels, valued at more than 100 million dollars, remain missing. Investigators believe the treasures, including an emerald necklace set with over 1,000 diamonds gifted by Napoleon Bonaparte to his second wife, may have been dismantled for their raw materials.
The latest arrests were made Wednesday night in Paris and Seine Saint Denis, following an 11 day manhunt. The first two suspects were detained last weekend, one of them allegedly trying to flee to Algeria from Charles de Gaulle Airport.
According to prosecutors, both men, aged 34 and 39, have partially admitted their involvement. DNA evidence linked them to a broken display case and one of the scooters used in the escape.
The heist has drawn global attention and sparked criticism of security lapses at the Louvre, the world’s most visited museum. Museum director Laurence des Cars told French senators that no surveillance cameras were installed on the second floor balcony where the thieves broke in using an angle grinder.
Police say the investigation is ongoing as they continue to track down the fourth suspect and recover the stolen treasures.
