Louvre Heist Suspects Arrested, One As They Were Trying To Leave France

Police in France have arrested suspects in connection with the theft of Napoleonic crown jewels from the Louvre Museum in Paris last weekend, in what was one of the most high-profile heists in modern history. Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said the suspects were arrested on Saturday evening, and that one of them was detained while attempting to flee the country from Charles de Gaulle Airport. She did not say how many suspects were arrested or if the jewels were recovered. Le Parisien, which broke the story, reported that the suspects were two men in their 30s from the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris. Read more: Louvre Robbery: How Thieves Carried Out An Audacious Heist of ‘Priceless’ Napoleonic Jewels However, Beccuau did not confirm those details and criticized French media for leaking information about the investigation.    “This revelation can only hinder the investigative efforts of the 100 or so mobilised investigators, both in the search for the stolen jewellery and for all the perpetrators. It is too early to provide any specific details,” Beccuau said. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised “the investigators who have worked tirelessly, just as I asked them to, and who have always had my full confidence.” The brazen heist a week ago shocked France and captivated art lovers worldwide.  Investigators say the thieves entered and exited the museum in under four minutes on Sunday morning, escaping with eight pieces from France’s Crown Jewels. The stolen items include emerald- and sapphire-encrusted diadems, necklaces, and brooches once worn by the wives of Napoleon Bonaparte and other 19th-century royals. Officials estimate the collection’s value at roughly $100 million. Four thieves, masked and hooded, arrived on motor scooters and two entered the museum via the Seine-facing facade at around 9:30 a.m. local time, shortly after the museum’s opening. Construction work aided their heist, as a cherry picker allowed them to access the Apollo Gallery jewel room directly on the first floor, which is less than 300 yards from the famed Mona Lisa. Officials revealed that surveillance footage showed the thieves entering “calmly” and smashing display cases containing the jewels. Dati said there was “no violence” during the heist, which she described as “very professional.” This is a developing story.