The two suspects arrested in the daring Louvre heist both “partially” admitted to their roles in the caper, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said Wednesday.

French investigators were approaching a deadline Wednesday to either charge the two men — arrested Saturday night — or release them. They will face charges of theft committed by an organized gang and criminal conspiracy and will remain behind bars, according to Beccuau.

One of the suspects is a 34-year-old Algerian national who has lived in France since 2010, the prosecutor said. The man lived in the north Paris suburb of Aubervilliers and was arrested at Paris’ biggest airport Saturday night before he could board a flight to Algeria, authorities said.

The other suspect, a 39-year-old man, was arrested at his home in Aubervilliers the same night. Beccuau said there was “no evidence to suggest that he was about to leave the country.”

Both suspects were tied to the scene by DNA, according to investigators. The Algerian man’s DNA was found on a scooter the thieves used to escape, while the other suspect’s DNA was located on items the thieves left behind, prosecutors said.

Police officers work by a basket lift used by thieves Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025 at the Louvre museum in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

The two detained suspects are believed to be part of a four-person crew that smashed into the Apollo Gallery shortly after the Louvre opened on Oct. 19 and stole eight French crown jewels valued at $102 million.

Lasting less than eight minutes total, the heist has embarrassed French officials and Louvre leaders for exposing security gaps in the world’s most popular museum.

“A technological step has not been taken,” Paris Police Chief Patrice Faure told French lawmakers earlier Wednesday. “The issue is not a guard at a door; it is speeding the chain of alert.”

This photo provided Thursday Oct. 23, 2025 by Interpol and taken from its website shows the jewels stolen in the Louvre museum on Sunday Oct.19, 2025 in Paris. (Interpol via AP)

Beccuau confirmed Wednesday that though two suspects had been arrested, the eight stolen crown jewels remained missing. Jewelry experts believe the stolen items will likely be recut and/or melted down to disguise their history.

“These jewels are now, of course, unsellable … Anyone who buys them would be guilty of concealment of stolen goods,” Beccuau said. “There’s still time to give them back.”

With News Wire Services

https://www.nydailynews.com/2025/10/29/louvre-heist-suspects-admit-involvement-charges/