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French police have arrested five additional suspects in connection with the daring $100 million crown jewel heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris, but the stolen treasures are still nowhere to be found.
The robbery, which took place on October 23, shocked the world. In broad daylight, a group of professional thieves pulled off what seemed like a scene straight from a Hollywood movie. Using a truck-mounted lift, they managed to access the museum, steal priceless jewelry, and escape on motorbikes before anyone could stop them.
Authorities have been scrambling to track down those responsible. The first arrest came just two days later, on October 25, when one suspect was caught at Charles de Gaulle Airport. Another was detained at his home in Aubervilliers, just north of Paris.
Now, according to Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, five more individuals were taken into custody on October 29. One of them is believed to have been directly involved in the group that entered the museum during the heist. Officials, however, have not released the names or further details of the suspects.
Despite several arrests, the jewels are still missing. “Searches last night and overnight did not allow us to find the goods,” Beccuau told RTL Radio. She also made it clear that investigators do not believe Louvre staff were involved in the theft.
The prosecutor issued a warning to anyone who might try to buy or sell the stolen items, saying, “These jewels are now, of course, unsellable. Anyone who buys them would be guilty of concealment of stolen goods. There’s still time to give them back.”
Meanwhile, Louvre Museum director Laurence des Cars admitted that the museum’s security system is ageing, which may have made it easier for the thieves to pull off the crime unnoticed.
As police continue to chase leads, the spectacular heist has left France and the world stunned, and wondering how such a massive robbery could happen inside one of the most secure and famous museums on Earth.