Another Four Apprehensions Carried Out in Link to Paris Louvre Museum Precious Gems Theft
A further quartet of suspects have been detained as part of the ongoing investigation into the last month's robbery of priceless jewelry at the famous Paris museum, per reports from the French judicial authorities.
Details of the Latest Apprehensions
Two male suspects, in their late thirties, and a duo of females, 31 and 40 years of age, were taken into custody this Tuesday. They all reside in the Γle-de-France region.
Among them is considered as the remaining individual of a four-man gang that is said to have performed the daylight heist, per media sources in France. The remaining trio alleged robbers have already been arrested and formally accused, authorities state.
Investigators currently possess a maximum of four days to interrogate the suspects. Zero evidence has so far been found of the taken jewelry - appraised at β¬88m (Β£76m; $102m) - which were stolen on October 19th.
Previous Indictments and Rejections
Four individuals have previously faced charges over the heist - three male and one female suspects, who are likewise residents of the Parisian area.
One female, aged 38 was indicted in recent weeks with aiding organized theft and criminal conspiracy intended to carry out unlawful acts.
Additionally, one male suspect, 37 years old, was indicted for stealing and conspiratorial activities.
These two suspects, who have not been named publicly, have rejected all accusations.
The Method of the Robbery Was Carried Out
The robbery occurred when the group of four men employed a hijacked vehicle with a mounted lift to enter the Apollo Gallery through a terrace adjacent to the Seine.
The perpetrators employed a circular saw to force open exhibition cases which held the precious items.
The thieves were inside for just 240 seconds and fled the scene on two motor scooters waiting outside at 09:38 in the morning, before changing to vehicles.
A single pilfered object - a crown - was lost during the getaway but eight additional pieces of jewelry - featuring an emerald and diamond necklace that Napoleon I gave his second spouse, Marie-Louise of Austria - were stolen.
Security Failures and Aftermath
Authorities have indicated that the theft was performed by petty criminals instead of organised crime professionals.
In the immediate aftermath of the heist, it was revealed by the Louvre's director that the only camera monitoring the Galerie d'Apollon was directed away from the balcony scaled by the robbers to gain entry.
The president of the Louvre has later confessed that the institution had fallen short in its duties, but disputed allegations of security being ignored - emphasizing that from the moment of her appointment in two thousand twenty-one she had been consistently alerting of the need for more investment.
Strengthened Protective Steps
Following the event, security measures have been tightened around French heritage sites.
The Louvre has transferred a selection of its most valuable gems to the national bank in the aftermath of the robbery.