In a dramatic turn of events, French authorities have apprehended several individuals in connection with last weekend’s daring theft of crown jewels from the prestigious Louvre Museum in Paris. The announcement came from French officials on Sunday, offering a glimmer of hope for the resolution of this high-profile case.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau revealed that the arrests were made on Saturday evening. Among those taken into custody was a man intercepted at Charles de Gaulle airport as he attempted to flee the country. This strategic capture underscores the swift and efficient response of law enforcement in tackling this audacious crime.

While Beccuau refrained from disclosing the precise number of individuals arrested, earlier reports by French media outlets BFM TV and Le Parisien indicated that two suspects had been detained. The prosecutor did not confirm whether the stolen jewels, valued at a staggering 88 million euros (approximately $102 million), had been recovered, leaving the public eager for further updates.

The theft, executed in under eight minutes, has not only shocked France but also captured international attention. The audacity and precision of the heist have prompted widespread discussions about museum security and the preservation of cultural treasures.

As the investigation continues, a police vehicle remains stationed in the courtyard of the Louvre Museum, a silent sentinel in the aftermath of the robbery. The incident, which occurred on October 26, 2025, has left an indelible mark on the iconic institution and the broader cultural community. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

The crew of thieves used a basket lift to scale the Louvre’s façade, forced open a window, smashed display cases and fled, according to French officials. The Louvre’s director Laurence des Cars acknowledged there was a “terrible failure” in the museum’s security.

Beccuau said investigators from a special police unit in charge of armed robberies, serious burglaries and art thefts made the arrests. She said the premature leak of information could hinder the work of over 100 investigators “mobilized to recover the stolen jewels and apprehend all of the perpetrators.” 

Beccuau said further details will be unveiled after the suspects’ custody period ends.

Police secured the area outside the Louvre Museum in Paris last week, where burglars used a truck-mounted moving lift to reach a second-floor window and steal royal jewelry valued at more than $100 million. (Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images)

French Interior minister Laurent Nunez praised the investigators for their tireless work, adding that they always had his “full confidence.”

Police officers stand near the pyramid of the Louvre Museum after the theft of crown jewels on Oct. 19, 2025. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters)

The thieves slipped away with a total of eight objects, including a sapphire diadem, necklace and single earring from a set linked to 19th-century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense. They also stole an emerald necklace and earrings tied to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife, and a reliquary brooch. Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch — an imperial ensemble of rare craftsmanship — were also part of the loot.

Eugénie’s emerald-set imperial crown with more than 1,300 diamonds was later found outside the museum, damaged but recoverable.

This is a breaking news story; check back for updates.