Louvre heist: What's known about ‘commando’ team suspects

The Louvre heist last month captivated the internet when millions of dollars of jewels were taken from the world’s most popular museum in just minutes. 

It took several days before any arrests were made in connection with the heist. 

Here’s what we’re learning about the suspects that have been arrested so far: 

Louvre suspect mugshots

Big picture view:

Mugshots of the suspects have not been released, in line with French law and in departure from the typical flow of information that Americans are used to during high-profile investigations. 

French law says information about investigations are meant to be secret, in part to avoid compromising police work. And only the prosecutor, which in this case is Laure Beccuau, may speak publicly about investigations.

Louvre suspects arrested

However:

Basic details are known so far about the suspects arrested in connection with the heist. 

By the numbers:

Three alleged members of the team of four – which French media is calling the "commando" team – are now in custody. 

Dig deeper:

Here’s what’s known so far about the suspects that have been arrested: 

• 34-year-old Algerian national who has been living in France, suspected of entering the Apollo Gallery with disc cutters to cut into the display cases and steal the jewels. Arrested Oct. 25, six days after the heist, at Charles de Gaulle airport.
• 39-year-old French man from the suburb of Aubervilliers, also suspected of entering the Apollo Gallery. Also arrested on Oct. 25, and is known to police for several thefts. 
• 37-year-old man living in the suburb of  La Courneuve with a record of theft, arrested on Oct. 29, 10 days after the heist. He is believed to have arrived at the Louvre with a lift truck, simulating renovation work to stop the vehicle at the foot of the museum. 
• 38-year-old woman who is the longtime partner of the 37-year-old suspect. She has denied any involvement, her lawyer said. 

All four are facing various preliminary charges related to theft and have been jailed.

Two of the suspects, the 39-year-old and the 37-year-old, had previously been convicted in a theft case together 10 years ago, Beccuau said Sunday.  

None of their names have been made public. 

Louvre heist

Big picture view:

The thieves made off on Oct. 19 with a trove valued around $102 million that includes a diamond-and-emerald necklace Napoleon gave to Empress Marie-Louise as a wedding gift, jewels tied to 19th-century Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense, and Empress Eugénie’s pearl-and-diamond tiara.

Only one relic has surfaced so far — Eugénie’s crown, damaged but salvageable, dropped in the escape.

Timeline:

Nine days before the raid, on Oct. 10, the suspects booked a truck-mounted lift for a "moving job", prosecutors say, and ambushed the driver and stole the lift truck. 

At 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 19, the basket lift rose to the Apollo Gallery at 9:30 a.m.

At 9:34 a.m., the glass gave way; by 9:38 a.m. the crew was gone in a four-minute strike. 

Video perspective:

Security footage shows at least four men forcing a window, cutting into two display cases with power tools and fleeing on two scooters toward eastern Paris. Investigators say there is no sign of insider help for now, though they are not ruling out a wider network beyond the four on camera.

Meanwhile:

The jewelry remains missing and a fourth suspect is still at large. Authorities are also investigating who might have ordered the crime.