• Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the Louvre heist.
• The Paris prosecutor characterized the suspects as petty criminals, not organized crime members.
• The stolen jewels, valued at €88 million, are still missing.
• Investigators are searching for a fifth suspect believed to be the mastermind behind the theft.
• Two suspects are a couple with children, both of whom deny involvement in the crime.

Last month, a brazen jewel heist at the Louvre Museum, one of the world's most prestigious art venues, resulted in the theft of jewels worth approximately €88 million ($102 million). Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau stated the suspects involved in the heist are not part of organized crime but are instead small-time criminals from the impoverished Seine-Saint-Denis region north of Paris. "This is not quite everyday delinquency ... but it is a type of delinquency that we do not generally associate with the upper echelons of organised crime," Beccuau elaborated, indicating that the profiles of the offenders do not fit the typical criminal mold expected for such a notable theft, according to BBC and Le Monde.

On October 19, the suspects executed the daylight heist in under seven minutes. They had parked a truck with a lift outside the Louvre, broke a window, and used tools to crack open display cases housing the jewels before fleeing on scooters. Since then, investigators have arrested four individuals connected to the crime, including a couple noted as the main suspects, who share children. Beccuau noted that they have denied all involvement while expressing concern for their children during court appearances, reports India Times and South China Morning Post.

The suspects include two men previously convicted for theft, with one having a criminal record comprising 11 previous convictions, primarily for theft. Authorities are still seeking a fifth suspect who is believed to have orchestrated the heist. Despite the challenging circumstances, Beccuau expressed hope that the jewels could still be recovered intact, according to Le Monde, India Times, and South China Morning Post.

Despite the lower profile of the suspects, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez acknowledged that the brain behind the robbery remains at large. Traces of DNA were found at the crime scene linking the suspects to the theft. The investigation continues as authorities explore various avenues to ensure the stolen treasures do not end up on the black market, per reports from BBC, Le Monde, and India Times.