Former Delivery Drivers 'Partially' Confess To Brazen Louvre Jewel Heist

Two former delivery drivers have "partially confessed" to stealing France's crown jewels from the Louvre museum, according to Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau. The suspects, whose DNA linked them to the crime, have not yet led police to the missing jewels valued at $102 million. The heist occurred on October 19, when four thieves used a furniture elevator truck to break into the Galerie d’Apollon, drilling into display cases and escaping on scooters.

One suspect, a 34-year-old Algerian national, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport trying to board a flight to Algeria. The second suspect, a 39-year-old taxi driver, was apprehended near his home. Both were known to police for previous offenses. Beccuau stated that investigations are ongoing to find two other thieves still at large.

Paris Police Chief Patrice Faure acknowledged significant security gaps at the Louvre, citing outdated systems and a lapse in security camera authorization. The museum's alarms failed to alert police, with the first alert coming from a cyclist who witnessed the thieves. The jewels were not privately insured, leaving the Louvre with no financial compensation for the loss.

The Louvre's security overhaul, a $93 million project, is not expected to be completed until 2029. Faure urged lawmakers to authorize AI-based tools for real-time monitoring. Meanwhile, experts fear the stolen pieces may be broken down and stones recut to erase their past.