Paris — Five more people have been arrested in the investigation into the Theft of the crown jewels from the Louvre Museum.but the treasures are still missing, the Paris prosecutor announced on Thursday.
The five were arrested on Wednesday night in Paris and the Paris region, prosecutor Laure Beccuau told RTL radio. She did not reveal their identities or other details.
One is suspected of being part of the four-person team that robbed the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery in broad daylight on Oct. 19, the prosecutor said. Two other members of the team were arrested Sunday and preliminarily charged Wednesday with criminal conspiracy and robbery committed by an organized gang. Both partially admitted their involvement, according to the prosecutor.
Emma Da Silva/AP
Two people were previously arrested in connection with the robbery, authorities said.
“Searches last night and overnight did not allow us to find the merchandise,” Beccuau said.
It took the thieves less than eight minutes to steal the jewels valued at €88 million ($102 million), shocking the world. The thieves forced a window, cut open boxes with power tools and made off with eight pieces of the French crown jewels.
But Parisian master jeweler and gem appraiser Stephen Portier told CBS News that thieves will have a hard time selling the gems.
“Everyone knows about this theft. The dealers will have photographs of each piece in their offices,” he said. “So if they think they’re being offered diamonds from the Louvre… they’ll ask some tough questions. And they’ll contact the police.”
Portier said thieves might have to recut stolen gems, which would significantly decrease their value.
