French authorities have charged two additional suspects in connection with the audacious $102 million jewel heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, bringing the total number of accused to four. The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that a 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were formally placed under investigation for their alleged roles in the high-profile theft. The man, already known to police for previous crimes, faces charges of organised theft and criminal conspiracy, while the woman was charged with complicity in the same offences.
The suspects were arrested earlier this week and later brought before investigating judges, where both denied any involvement in the heist. They remain in pre-trial detention as authorities continue probing their potential links to the organized network behind the operation. Three other individuals detained alongside them on October 29 were released without charge due to lack of evidence. Investigators are working to determine whether the newly charged pair played a logistical role or helped conceal the stolen jewels.
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French media reported that the female suspect hails from La Courneuve, a working-class suburb north of Paris often associated with criminal networks. Meanwhile, officials revealed that the first two individuals charged last week had already “partially admitted” to their participation in the heist. Those suspects include a 34-year-old Algerian arrested while attempting to flee to Algeria and a 39-year-old man already under judicial supervision for aggravated theft. Both lived in Aubervilliers, another suburb of northern Paris known for its dense urban environment and illicit trade connections.
Investigators say the heist was carried out with remarkable precision two weeks ago, when two hooded thieves gained access to the museum’s second floor using a movers’ lift. They smashed display cases with power tools and made off with a collection of rare jewels before escaping on scooters driven by accomplices waiting outside. Security experts have described the operation as one of the most daring art thefts in recent history, exposing critical flaws in the Louvre’s surveillance systems.
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Authorities have yet to recover any of the stolen gems, and the investigation remains ongoing as police track international smuggling networks believed to be involved. The Louvre’s management has pledged to enhance security measures and cooperate fully with law enforcement. Meanwhile, the spectacular nature of the robbery continues to capture global attention, reigniting debate over how even the world’s most secure cultural institutions remain vulnerable to sophisticated criminal groups.