The two men arrested on Saturday in connection with the Louvre Museum robbery have “partially admitted” to the crime, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said Wednesday, adding that the stolen jewels “have not yet been found.”
The detainees are believed to be part of a four-man team that, on Sunday, October 19, stole eight pieces of French crown jewelry within minutes — items valued at more than $100 million.
“They are currently being presented before magistrates with a view to being charged with organized theft, an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison, as well as criminal conspiracy, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years,” Beccuau explained during a press conference.
The thieves reportedly entered the Paris museum using a freight elevator installed on a public street, cut through the display cases with a circular saw, and escaped on motorcycles.
According to Beccuau, these two men are suspected of entering the Apollo Gallery during the robbery. One of them is a 34-year-old Algerian citizen residing in France; the other, 39 years old, was born in France. Both have criminal records.
“The jewels are not yet in our possession. I want to remain hopeful that they will be recovered and returned to the Louvre Museum — and, more broadly, to the nation,” Beccuau added.
Among the stolen pieces are a pearl tiara that once belonged to Empress Eugénie and a sapphire necklace and earrings set belonging to Queen Marie-Amélie.
During their escape, the thieves dropped a crown that also belonged to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, which was damaged in the process. Its restoration will be “delicate,” warned the prosecutor.
Although investigators have “confirmed the involvement of four offenders,” they do not rule out the possibility of a larger operation, possibly involving a mastermind or intended buyers, Beccuau said.
However, she emphasized that, “contrary to what some media outlets have reported, there is currently no evidence to suggest that the criminals had any inside help from within the museum.”