On Tuesday, four more suspects were arrested in connection with the theft of the French crown jewels from the Louvre in Paris last month. One of the men, arrested in Laval, is suspected of being the fourth gang member involved in the heist, which occurred on October 19 when robbers used a cherry picker and angle grinder to steal nine pieces of jewelry worth an estimated $102 million from the Apollo Gallery. The other three previously charged suspects were identified as Ayed G, Slimane K, and Abdoulaye N. Three relatives of the new suspect were also taken for questioning. One of the stolen pieces, a crown belonging to Empress Eugénie, was recovered outside the museum.
The heist highlights serious security deficiencies at the Louvre, one of the world's most visited museums. Louvre director Laurence des Cars acknowledged that the museum's security systems are "very inadequate" and "outdated," with full upgrades not expected until 2032. The theft has prompted the transfer of remaining precious jewels to the Bank of France and the installation of 100 surveillance cameras and anti-intrusion systems. The case underscores ongoing challenges in protecting cultural heritage assets and the sophistication of organized art crime, even at premier institutions.