Where the Louvre's "hawks" went wrong, DNA reveals the perpetrators

2025-10-27 12:07:51Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Where the Louvre's "hawks" went wrong, DNA reveals the

A week after the robbery at the Louvre in Paris, two suspects are in custody. But will the successful pursuit of the perpetrators lead to the solving of the crime and the recovery of the jewels?

Local media reported that one of the suspects was detained at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport, while the second suspect was arrested in the Paris region, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau confirmed to the German Press Agency. The other two suspected accomplices are still at large.

DNA evidence found at the crime scene reportedly led directly to the suspects. One of them, arrested at the airport, was believed to have intended to fly to Algeria. They left behind various items at the crime scene, including helmets, a welding machine, a yellow high-visibility vest and cutting wheels, some of which were sprayed with petrol - and around 150 DNA traces.

Experts estimate the recovery rate at around eight percent of all stolen art objects. A look at previous cases of art theft shows that a large proportion of the looted items are gone forever.

How did the robbery happen?

Four people wearing high-visibility vests to resemble construction workers smashed a window and then used disc cutters to open two display cases in the ornate gallery before taking the elevator down and fleeing on the back of motorbikes driven by two other gang members. 

The entire robbery lasted less than seven minutes, with the two thieves entering the gallery staying inside for 3 minutes and 58 seconds. They stole nine objects from the collection of Napoleon and the Empress's jewelry, including a necklace, a brooch and a crown. Sources inside the museum confirm that the legendary "Régent" diamond, the largest in the collection weighing over 140 carats, was not affected by the robbery.


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