Four more arrested after Louvre jewelery robbery

Four more people have been arrested as part of an investigation into last month’s theft of precious jewels from the Louvre museum, the Paris prosecutor’s office said.

Two men, aged 38 and 39, and two women, aged 31 and 40, were arrested on Tuesday. They are all from the Paris area.

They are believed to be the last members of a four-man gang suspected of carrying out robberies in broad daylight, French media reported. Three other suspected burglars have been arrested and charged, officials said.

Police now have up to 96 hours to question them. No trace of the jewelery worth €88 million (£76 million; $102 million) stolen on October 19 has so far been found.

Four people have been charged in connection with the robbery – three men and one woman, who also live in the Paris area.

Earlier this month, a 38-year-old woman was charged with conspiracy to commit organized theft and criminal conspiracy.

Separately, a 37-year-old man was charged with theft and criminal conspiracy.

The two suspects, who have not been named, deny involvement.

Ms Becqueau had previously told French news agency Franceinfo that the pair were in a relationship and had a child, but gave no further details.

Meanwhile, two men were charged with theft and criminal conspiracy in October after officials said they “partially admitted” their involvement in the robbery.

Becuo has previously said that the robbery occurred when four men used a stolen car-mounted mechanical lift to enter the Galerie d’Apollon through a balcony near the Seine River.

The men used a disc cutter to open display cases containing jewelry.

The thieves stayed inside for four minutes and escaped at 09:38 on two motorcycles waiting outside before changing into a car.

One of the stolen items – a crown – was dropped during the escape, but eight other pieces of jewelry – including an emerald and diamond necklace given by Napoleon I to his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise – were taken.

Becuo said the robbery was carried out by petty criminals rather than organized crime professionals.

Shortly after the theft, the Louvre director revealed that the only camera monitoring the Apollo Gallery pointed to the balcony where the thieves climbed to break in.

Louvre director Laurence Dekar has since acknowledged that the museum failed to live up to its responsibilities but denied that security issues were being ignored and said she had been continually warning of the need for more investment since taking office in 2021.

Security measures around French cultural institutions have been stepped up since the incident.

The Louvre has transferred some of its most precious jewels to a French bank following the robbery.