New developments in the investigation of the Louvre Museum jewelry heist have emerged as the Paris prosecutor's office announced that two more people have been charged. A 38-year-old woman was charged with complicity in organized theft and criminal conspiracy, while a 37-year-old man faces charges for theft and conspiracy. Both deny any involvement in the theft.
This comes after two men were previously charged with similar offenses after admitting partial involvement in the robbery, which occurred on October 19, leading to the loss of jewels valued at €88 million (£76 million; $102 million).
The investigation has garnered national attention as four suspects executed a quick, daylight theft at the world's most-visited museum. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the alleged thieves arrived with a stolen vehicle-mounted mechanical lift, allowing them to breach the museum's Gallery of Apollo via a balcony. They reportedly used a disc cutter to access display cases containing the artwork.
Despite the swift identification and arrest of some suspects, the public sentiment remains one of disappointment and embarrassment for France, particularly regarding the museum's security protocols. Citizens have expressed relief at the progress of the investigation but criticize the lapse in preventative measures that permitted such a heist to occur.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati noted that museum authorities had underestimated the risks of theft, pledging to enhance security measures posthaste. The Louvre has since relocated some of its most valued pieces to the Bank of France for safekeeping while the inquiry continues. Efforts to recover the stolen jewels are ongoing, though there are fears they may have already been smuggled abroad.
