French Authorities Detain Duo Linked to Louvre Jewel Heist

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French authorities have detained two of the suspected robbers believed to have stolen precious crown jewels from the Louvre in a museum heist that stunned the world.

Two men in their 30s and originally from the capital’s Seine-Saint-Denis suburb — which includes some of the country’s most deprived areas — were detained on Saturday evening, according to Le Parisien newspaper, which first broke the story.

They were known to French police and one of the suspects was about to fly to Algeria from Charles de Gaulle airport, the newspaper said.

As of Sunday, there was still no trace of France’s stolen crown jewels.

The missing items include a tiara and an earring that once belonged to Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense in the early 1800s.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau did not say how many people were arrested or give any more details about them. In a statement, she deplored the fact that information about their arrest was leaked.

“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.

Four hooded thieves made off with eight precious pieces worth an estimated $157 million from the Louvre’s collection on 19 October, exposing security lapses at the world’s most-visited museum.

They broke in using a crane to smash an upstairs window during opening hours and escaped on motorbikes.

News of the robbery reverberated around the world, prompting soul-searching in France over what some regarded as a national humiliation.

Among the stolen artifacts is an exquisite emerald-and-diamond necklace previously owned by Empress Marie-Louise, a gift from her husband, Napoleon Bonaparte.

An emerald necklace and earrings from Empress Marie Louise

Interestingly, the crown of Empress Eugenie, Napoleon III’s wife, was discovered damaged outside the museum. It appears the thieves dropped the gold, emerald, and diamond piece during their escape.

The crown of Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, was found damaged outside the museum. The thieves apparently dropped the piece, made of gold, emeralds and diamonds, as they made their getaway.

Built in the late 12th century, the Louvre Palace used to be the official residence of the kings of France, until Louis XIV abandoned it for Versailles. It was turned into a museum for the royal art collection in 1793, four years after the French Revolution.

Its huge collection of masterpieces, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo statue, brought in 8.7 million visitors last year.