PARIS – French authorities have apprehended four individuals in connection with a brazen daylight heist at the Louvre museum, a case that involved the theft of a valuable 19th-century gold and enamel helmet, a judicial source confirmed on Tuesday.
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, two men and two women were taken into custody on Monday as part of the ongoing investigation into the 2023 theft. The arrests signal a significant breakthrough in a case that exposed a surprising security flaw at one of the world’s most visited and heavily guarded cultural institutions.
The heist took place on the afternoon of December 31, 2023, but details only emerged publicly in February of this year. The target was not a Renaissance painting or a classical sculpture, but a highly ornate piece of ceremonial armor: a gold-plated helmet and breastplate, lavishly decorated with enamel.
The items were part of the “Treasures of the 17th Century” collection and were crafted by the renowned French goldsmith François-Désiré Froment-Meurice. They were on loan to the Louvre from the French Navy’s national museum, the Musée National de la Marine in Paris.
In a move that seemed more like a scene from a Hollywood thriller than a real-life crime, the thief did not have to bypass layers of high-tech security. Instead, the perpetrator exploited a simple human error. The display case housing the precious artifacts was found to have been left unlocked by a museum employee.
Investigators believe the thief, described at the time as a well-dressed individual who blended in with the crowds, simply saw the opportunity, opened the case, and walked out with the historic pieces. The entire operation is thought to have taken just minutes. The breastplate was later recovered, found discarded in a nearby trash can within the museum, but the helmet, valued at several hundred thousand euros, remained missing.
The investigation, led by a specialized French police unit, has been piecing together the events for months. The arrests of the four individuals suggest that police may have identified not only the suspected thief but also potential accomplices who may have assisted in planning the theft or handling the stolen artifact.
The prosecutor’s office did not immediately release the identities of the four suspects or specify the exact roles they are alleged to have played. Under French law, suspects can be held in custody for up to 48 or, in some cases, 96 hours, during which time they will be questioned by investigators before a decision is made on whether to file formal charges.
The incident prompted a major internal review of security protocols at the Louvre, which houses iconic works like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. The museum has since reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of its unparalleled collection.
As the investigation continues, the art world and authorities alike will be watching closely, hoping the arrests will lead to the recovery of the missing national treasure and close a perplexing chapter in the Louvre’s long history.