Prosecutor “Holding on to Hope” for Return of Stolen Louvre Jewels

By Karen Dybis | October 30, 2025

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said yesterday that she’s “holding on to hope” the eight jewels taken in the Oct. 19 Louvre heist will still be found. None had been recovered at press time, though a total of seven people have been detained in connection with the robbery.

At yesterday’s press conference, Beccuau announced that five more suspects were in custody. Two men had been arrested last weekend, and Beccuau has said they partially admitted their role in the crime.

The five additional arrests took place Wednesday through coordinated raids in the Paris area, according to the BBC. One of those suspects is believed to be one of the four people who broke into the museum during opening hours and stole historic royal jewels worth $102 million.

In a new detail in the case, Israeli news outlet Ynet reported that five days after the heist, the alleged thieves contacted Israeli security firm CGI Group, through a representative, to negotiate the sale of the stolen jewels on the darknet. CGI “engaged in a series of encrypted chats with the representative and received indications that he indeed possessed at least some of the stolen items,” Ynet wrote.

CGI said “the Louvre’s management ignored the offer, even after the thieves provided apparent proof that they held some of the stolen jewels,” according to the story.

On Thursday, The New York Times reported that Paris investigators have processed 150 forensic samples, including DNA and fingerprints found on the scene. The DNA resulted in the arrest of the person suspected to be one of the robbers.

Top: The Louvre museum (Photo courtesy of the Louvre)