The charges come as investigators continue to uncover details surrounding the meticulously planned heist, which targeted treasures from the museum’s famed Galerie d’Apollon.

According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, a 37-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were placed under formal investigation on Saturday.

The man, who is known to police for previous theft-related offenses, faces charges of organized theft and criminal conspiracy. The woman was charged with complicity in organized theft and conspiracy.

Both individuals have denied involvement in the robbery and remain in pre-trial detention as inquiries continue.

The announcement brings the total number of people formally charged in the case to four. Three others who had been detained earlier in the week were released without charge after questioning.

The ongoing investigation reflects the seriousness with which French authorities are treating the case, given both the monetary value of the stolen jewels—estimated at around $102 million—and the symbolic importance of the Louvre as a global cultural landmark.

While details about the identities of the two new suspects remain limited, local media reported that the woman is from La Courneuve, a suburb located north of Paris.

The prosecutor’s office declined to release further information to protect the integrity of the investigation. Officials emphasized that cooperation between different branches of law enforcement has been crucial in tracing the suspects and piecing together the events leading up to the heist.

The first two suspects charged in the case were arrested earlier in October. One, a 34-year-old Algerian national living in France since 2010, was detained by police at the airport as he attempted to board a flight to Algeria.

The second, a 39-year-old man already under judicial supervision for aggravated theft, resides in Aubervilliers, a neighborhood in northern Paris. Both individuals have reportedly made partial admissions regarding their involvement in the crime.

Investigators believe the heist was carried out by a small, highly organized group that used a mover’s lift to access the second-floor gallery, where they smashed display cases with power tools before fleeing on scooters driven by accomplices.

The theft was executed with precision, suggesting prior knowledge of the museum’s layout and security systems. Despite the swift arrests, none of the stolen jewels have yet been recovered, and the search for the missing treasures continues.

The Louvre Museum, one of the world’s most visited cultural institutions, has remained open to the public since the incident. Museum officials have assured visitors that security protocols are being thoroughly reviewed and strengthened to prevent similar incidents in the future.

French authorities have also noted that the museum’s cooperation has been instrumental in the investigation, providing surveillance footage and technical information that helped trace the suspects’ movements.

Experts in art security have pointed out that high-value museum heists often involve extensive planning and international networks.

They have expressed confidence in the French police’s ability to eventually locate the stolen items, as such rare pieces are extremely difficult to sell on the open market without attracting attention.

The investigation continues under the supervision of specialized judges, with international cooperation being considered in case the stolen jewels are moved across borders.

Authorities have encouraged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious offers related to rare art or jewelry that may be connected to the case.

While the theft has raised concerns about museum security worldwide, it has also sparked renewed discussions about protecting cultural heritage and ensuring that global treasures remain accessible and safe.

The case continues to capture public attention, symbolizing both the vulnerability and enduring importance of the world’s great museums.

From London to Paris and Amsterdam to Sao Paulo, thieves have executed some of the world’s most audacious museum thefts — many still shrouded in mystery. Below is a look at some of the most notable incidents that have left curators, collectors, and investigators stunned for decades.

In August 2023, the British Museum in London revealed that nearly 2,000 artefacts, including gold jewellery, semi-precious stones, and ancient relics, had been stolen over an extended period.

The museum described it as an “inside job,” raising serious questions about internal security and collection management. Many items remain missing, while efforts continue to trace them through international art markets and online sales.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when galleries were shuttered worldwide, thieves exploited the opportunity. In March 2020, Vincent Van Gogh’s “Spring Garden” was stolen from the Singer Laren Museum in Amsterdam. The artwork, painted in 1884, was taken during the lockdown, highlighting how global crises can create new vulnerabilities.

Similarly, in August 2020, the Hofje van Mevrouw Van Aerden Museum near Utrecht lost Frans Hals’ “Two Laughing Boys,” valued at 15 million euros. Notably, the painting had been stolen twice before, making it one of the most frequently targeted works in art crime history.

One of the most high-profile thefts occurred in November 2019 in Dresden, Germany, when robbers broke into the Gruenes Gewoelbe (Green Vault) museum.

They stole artefacts containing more than 4,300 diamonds worth an estimated 113 million euros, one of the largest art thefts ever recorded. Fortunately, most of the treasures were later recovered after a complex investigation that led authorities to an organized crime group.

In May 2010, thieves stole five paintings worth 120 million euros from the Musee d’Art Moderne in Paris, including masterpieces by Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Despite extensive police operations, some of the works remain missing to this day.

Just two years later, in October 2012, another shocking robbery struck the Kunsthal Museum in Rotterdam, where seven paintings by Picasso, Matisse, and Monet vanished overnight.

The incident sparked global debate over museum security and the fate of stolen art — some of which may never resurface.

The early 2000s also saw several major thefts. In 2004, Brazil’s Sao Paulo Museum of Art lost Picasso’s “Portrait of Suzanne Bloch” and Candido Portinari’s “The Coffee Worker,” together worth nearly $55 million.

Both were miraculously recovered within a month. The same year, armed robbers in Oslo seized Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” and “Madonna” from the Munch Museum. The paintings were recovered in 2006, restoring Norway’s sense of cultural pride.

Even older cases, such as the 2003 theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Madonna of the Yarnwinder” from Drumlanrig Castle in Scotland, remain etched in history. The 16th-century masterpiece, valued at about $53 million, was found four years later in a recovery operation that spanned multiple countries.

Similarly, two Van Gogh paintings stolen in 2002 from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam — each worth over $50 million — were finally discovered in 2016 at a mafia hideout in Naples, Italy.

Across decades and continents, these heists reveal both the allure of priceless art and the evolving tactics of those who seek to steal it. While many works have been recovered through patient police work and international collaboration, others remain missing — their absence a silent reminder of humanity’s ongoing struggle to protect its cultural heritage.

Today, museums worldwide have significantly tightened their security systems, using advanced surveillance, laser grids, and AI-based tracking to safeguard treasures. Yet, as history shows, the fascination with art — and the temptation to steal it — continues to captivate minds, blurring the line between crime and obsession.