Another Four Arrests Made in Link to Louvre Jewellery Robbery
Another four persons have been detained in the context of the continuing probe into the last month's robbery of priceless jewelry at the Louvre Museum, according to the French judicial authorities.
Details of the Latest Apprehensions
A pair of males, aged 38 and 39, and two female individuals, in their early thirties and forties, were arrested on Tuesday. Each hails from the greater Paris area.
Included in this group is believed to be the remaining individual of a group of four that allegedly carried out the daytime theft, according to French media. The remaining trio alleged robbers have already been arrested and charged, according to officials.
Law enforcement has been granted a maximum of four days to conduct interviews. Not a single clue has yet been uncovered of the pilfered gems - worth an estimated €88m (£76m; $102m) - which were stolen on October 19th.
Previous Charges and Disavowals
A group of four have previously faced charges in relation to the robbery - three male and one female suspects, who also live in the greater Paris.
One female, aged 38 was formally accused earlier in the month with aiding organized theft and conspiracy to commit crimes intended to carry out unlawful acts.
Separately, a 37-year-old male, was accused of theft and criminal conspiracy.
Both of these individuals, who have not been named publicly, have rejected all accusations.
The Way the Theft Was Carried Out
The robbery occurred when the team of four individuals utilized a stolen mechanical lift attached to a vehicle to gain access to the Galerie d'Apollon (Gallery of Apollo) by means of a balcony close to the River Seine.
The men used a disc cutter to break into showcases containing the jewelry.
The thieves were inside for just 240 seconds and made their escape on two motor scooters stationed outside at 9:38 AM, before changing to vehicles.
One of the stolen items - a royal crown - was dropped during the escape but eight additional pieces of precious ornaments - featuring an emerald and diamond necklace that Napoleon I gave his second wife, the Empress Marie-Louise - were appropriated.
Security Shortcomings and Aftermath
Officials have revealed that the heist was carried out by minor lawbreakers instead of experienced crime syndicates.
Soon following the robbery, it was announced by the Louvre leadership that the single monitoring device watching the Apollo Gallery was directed away from the balcony scaled by the robbers to commit the burglary.
The museum's president has subsequently acknowledged that the establishment had not fulfilled in its duties, but rejected claims that security was neglected - stating that from the moment of her appointment in 2021 she had been repeatedly cautioning of the requirement for additional resources.
Enhanced Protective Steps
In the wake of the robbery, safeguarding procedures have been tightened around France's cultural institutions.
The museum has moved some of its most precious jewels to the French central bank in the aftermath of the robbery.