French investigators have detained a third suspect in connection with the 19 October jewel theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
The man was arrested on Wednesday evening in the greater Paris area and was in police custody on Thursday, 30 October, according to reports first carried by French media. Two other suspects were charged and remanded in custody on Wednesday as the inquiry widened.
Prosecutors in Paris said earlier this week that the first two suspects—men aged 34 and 39—had acknowledged partial involvement during questioning. Both were placed under formal investigation for organised theft and criminal conspiracy. DNA traces found at the scene were said to have linked them to the raid. The jewels remain missing.
The burglary, which lasted seven to eight minutes, took place during opening hours on Sunday, 19 October. The thieves targeted eight pieces from the French Crown Jewels on display in the Louvre’s Galerie d’Apollon. Officials have estimated the value at around €88 million, though authorities have stressed the items’ historical significance outweighs their commercial worth.
Accounts from investigators and reporting suggest the group used a service or freight lift to gain access and worked at speed, with at least some members wearing high-visibility clothing to appear as maintenance staff. The escape involved pre-positioned vehicles and scooters. Paris prosecutors have said there is no evidence of insider assistance at this stage, but have not ruled out the involvement of additional accomplices.
The arrest of the third suspect follows a series of operations launched after the initial detentions on Saturday, 25 October. One of the first two men was stopped at Roissy–Charles de Gaulle airport as he prepared to fly to Algeria; the other was arrested at his home. Both men are residents of Seine-Saint-Denis, north-east of Paris. The latest arrest reportedly took place in the Paris region, and the individual is suspected of having been physically present at the museum on 19 October as part of what French outlets have described as the “Louvre commando”.
Prosecutor Laure Beccuau has confirmed that the investigation is being conducted under the organised-crime framework. She told reporters that while two suspects had partially admitted their role, efforts to identify other members of the group and to locate the stolen pieces were ongoing. Police have not disclosed the precise leads being pursued, but standard practice in such cases includes the examination of telecoms data, analysis of vehicle movements captured on city cameras, and scrutiny of the resale channels for high-value gems.
The Louvre has faced questions over security after the theft. Reports have highlighted ageing camera systems and gaps in monitoring within the Apollo Gallery. The museum has indicated that an upgrade programme is under way, in coordination with the Interior Ministry and Paris police. Senior officials have discussed the potential use of newer surveillance technologies to strengthen detection without impeding public access.
What was taken has been described as a set of eight historic jewels associated with the French monarchy and Second Empire, including items linked to Empress Eugénie and other royal figures. Experts note that such pieces are difficult to sell intact due to their recognisability. There is concern that the jewels could be disassembled and stones recut to frustrate identification, although such processes carry their own risks and may reduce the items’ overall value.
Portrait of Empress Eugénie in court dress, 19th-century painting after German painter Franz Xaver Winterhalter. The wife of Napoleon III is wearing a diamond and pearl diadem on her head and gesturing toward a gold and diamond crown, both of which were stolen from the Louvre during an October 2025 heist. The crown was recovered outside the museum, the burglars apparently having dropped it in their haste to flee the scene, but the diadem remained missing.
In the immediate aftermath of the raid, the Louvre moved other high-value exhibits to secure storage off-site as a precaution. The museum, which welcomes millions of visitors annually, reopened with reinforced measures while investigators from specialised units continued their work on-site and across the region.
Thursday’s development means three suspects are now in custody for questioning, with at least one further accomplice believed to be at large. Under French procedure, police custody can be extended in organised-crime cases to allow for additional interviews, confrontations, and forensic analyses. Magistrates will decide on any further charges as evidence is compiled. Authorities have appealed for information that could assist in the recovery of the jewels and the identification of remaining suspects.
The investigation remains active under the supervision of the Paris prosecutor’s office. Further updates are expected as custody decisions are made and searches continue for any outstanding members of the group.
