French detectives are investigating whether a Louvre security guard colluded with thieves, following evidence suggesting the museum heist was an inside job. The crime saw four masked individuals steal eight of France’s crown jewels, valued at around $102 million, during a heist that lasted only seven minutes. The theft, which involved the use of a crane to gain access to the museum, has prompted a detailed forensic examination by investigators. Digital evidence, including messages and recordings, has been uncovered suggesting coordination between a museum employee and the suspects. The thieves reportedly used a crane to reach a balcony, broke a window on the Galerie d’Apollon, and fled via a furniture elevator in just seven minutes. Two suspects were arrested near Paris, with one identified through DNA evidence. The museum director acknowledged the breach as a ‘terrible failure,’ and several of the most precious jewels have been transferred to the Bank of France for safekeeping.
Investigators have collected over 150 DNA samples from items left at the scene, including helmets, gloves, and tools. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has praised the police for their progress in the case, adding that the investigation must continue ‘in accordance with judicial secrecy.’ The prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, confirmed the arrests but criticized media leaks that could hinder the efforts of the 100 investigators involved. No indication has been given that any of the stolen crown jewels have been recovered. The Louvre’s director, Laurence des Cars, described the theft as a ‘terrible failure,’ with a camera near the break-in site reportedly pointing in the wrong direction. The museum has since transferred several of its most valuable jewels to the Bank of France for safekeeping. The ongoing investigation continues to uncover new evidence, with the possibility of an inside job raising significant questions about security protocols and internal vulnerabilities at the world-renowned museum.