Police Make Arrests in Louvre Robbery, Authorities Say

The police have made arrests in the brazen jewelry heist last week at the Louvre Museum in Paris, French authorities said on Sunday, without saying how many people had been taken into custody.

The robbery was carried out by four people. Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor, said in a statement that the arrests were made on Saturday evening and that one man was arrested at the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport as he was trying to leave the country.

It was not immediately clear whether the police had recovered any of the stolen jewelry, worth more than $100 million, which included gem-studded royal tiaras, necklaces and earrings.

The arrests were a major breakthrough in the case. They came one week after the daylight robbery at the Louvre, which put an uncomfortable spotlight on security lapses at the world’s most visited museum.

The arrests were first reported by French news media citing anonymous sources, apparently catching the authorities by surprise.

“I deeply regret the hasty disclosure of this information,” Ms. Beccuau said in her statement. She said that the leaked information would hinder “the 100 or so investigators who mobilized in the search for both the stolen jewelry and for all of the criminals.”

Ms. Beccuau said it was too early to provide further details, adding that she would provide more information after the police finish questioning the suspects.

The thieves, posing as workers, had used a truck-mounted lift elevator to reach the second floor before using power tools to break a window and clamber into a gallery. They then grabbed eight precious crown jewels before speeding away on motor scooters — all in less than 10 minutes.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.