Traced through DNA samples left on objects recovered at the crime scene and around the broken window used to access the museum's Apollon gallery and Beccuau's statements relayed more information about the two individuals, originally residents in Seine-Saint-Denis, presently in French custody.  

The 34 year old suspect was arrested at 8:00 pm at Charles de Gaulle airport last Saturday, with a one-way ticket to Algeria.  He is an Algerian-born resident living in Aubervilliers. Unemployed and known to the French police for a theft conviction as well as various traffic offences, he has lived in France since 2010 and once worked as a delivery driver and garbage man.  His DNA traces was found on one of the scooters used in the thieves' getaway after the robbery.

The second 39 year old suspect was arrested the same night at around 8:40 p.m. He was born in Seine-Saint-Denis in the northern suburbs of Paris.  An unlicensed taxi and delivery driver, he was taken into custody near his home in Aubervilliers.  Like the first accomplice, he was already known to police for aggravated robberies committed in 2008 and 2014.  At the time of his arrest this week, he was also under judicial supervision while awaiting trial for the charge of aggravated theft in Bobigny, a northeastern suburb of the French capital.  He was tied to the robbery by DNA  found on one of the broken display cases, as well as on objects abandoned as the thieves fled. 

In talking about the case breakthroughs, the prosecutor clarified that there was no evidence that supported statements that this individual had plans to leave the country, dispelling earlier statements in news articles that said that this suspect was intent on leaving France for Mali. 

Both of these suspects have been identified as the two individuals who road the lift elevator and entered into the museum to steal the jewels.  Brought before French Magistrates on Wednesday, they have now been formally charged with organised robbery, which carries a sentence of fifteen years imprisonment and criminal conspiracy, which carries a sentence of ten years imprisonment. 

Later last night, around 9 pm, Prosecutor Beccuau's office released a statement that five more suspects were apprehended by investigators from the Brigade for the Repression of Banditry (BRB) in connection the the museum heist in the swanky 16th (Marseille) and the impoverished 93rd arrondissement (Seine-Saint-Denis) of Paris.  One of these is believed to have been another of the four alleged robbers who carried out the heist and who was linked to the robbery through DNA evidence.

For now the Paris prosecutor has indicated that the stolen jewellery "is not in our possession" and "I want to remain hopeful that they will be found and can be returned to the Louvre Museum and, more broadly, to the nation".

Further news is expected later this morning. 

News of a break in the case was first reported by the French news service, Le Parisien  citing anonymous sources,

The newspapers story was confirmed via the Paris prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, who stated that two men in their thirties were arrested.  One subject was taken into custody while preparing to board a flight to Algiers at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport northeast of the city centre of Paris.  The second suspect was apprehended at a location in Seine-Saint-Denis, a historically working-class immigrant commune in the northern suburbs of Paris.  

Both suspects are said to have prior records according to French media and will likely be formally charged with organised robbery and criminal conspiracy to commit a crime.

In her statement, prosecutor Beccuau expressed regret over the premature press release of information related to the case, emphasising that such leaks could seriously undermine the investigation.  She noted that the disclosure risked hindering the coordinated work of roughly one hundred investigators who have been mobilised to recover both the stolen jewellery and apprehend all those involved in the crime. Her comments reflected concern that publicising sensitive details too soon could compromise ongoing efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The investigation continues as authorities search for the remaining two members of the four-man team as well as the missing jewels.

On June 15, 2023, a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Pennsylvania indicted Nicholas Dombek, Damien Boland, Joseph Atsus and his brother Alfred Atsus for their alleged involvement in a widespread art and memorabilia theft ring that spanned over two decades and targeted 19 museums and other venues in six states and the District of Columbia.

The charges against the men included conspiracy to commit theft of major artwork, concealment or disposal of cultural artefacts, and interstate transportation of stolen property.  Each defendant also faced additional counts related to the theft and concealment of significant cultural objects, with Dombek receiving an extra charge for transporting stolen property across state lines.

The objects taken during the series of breakins included:

Those objects included:

A Christy Mathewson jersey and two contracts signed by Mathewson stolen in 1999 from Keystone College in Factoryville, Pennsylvania;

“Le Grande Passion” by Andy Warhol and “Springs Winter” by Jackson Pollock stolen in 2005 from the Everhart Museum, Scranton, Pennsylvania;

Nine (9) World Series rings, seven (7) other championship rings, and two (2) MVP plaques awarded to Yogi Berra, worth over $1,000,000 stolen in 2014 from the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center, Little Falls, New Jersey;

Six (6) championship belts, including four awarded to Carmen Basilio and two awarded to Tony Zale stolen in 2015 from the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Canastota, New York;

The Hickok Belt and MVP Trophy awarded to Roger Maris, stolen in 2016 from the Roger Maris Museum, Fargo, North Dakota;

The U.S. Amateur Trophy and a Hickok Belt awarded to Ben Hogan, stolen in 2012 from the USGA Golf Museum & Library, Liberty Corner, New Jersey;

Fourteen (14) trophies and other awards worth over $300,000 stolen in 2012 from the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, Goshen, New York;

Five (5) trophies worth over $400,000, including the 1903 Belmont Stakes Trophy, stolen in 2013 from the National Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, Saratoga Springs, New York;

Eleven (11) trophies, including 4 awarded to Art Wall, Jr. stolen in 2011 from the Scranton Country Club, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania;

Three antique firearms worth a combined $1,000,000 stolen in 2006 from Space Farms: Zoo & Museum, Wantage, New Jersey;

An 1903/1904 Tiffany Lamp stolen in 2010 from the Lackawanna Historical Society, Scranton, Pennsylvania,

“Upper Hudson” by Jasper Cropsey, worth approximately $500,000, and two antique firearms worth over $300,000, stolen in 2011 from Ringwood Manor, Ringwood, New Jersey;

$400,000 worth of gold nuggets stolen in 2011 from the Sterling Hill Mining Museum, Ogdensburg, New Jersey;

Various gems, minerals, and other items stolen in 2017 from the Franklin Mineral Museum, Franklin, New Jersey;

An antique shotgun worth over $30,000 stolen in 2018 from Space Farms: Zoo & Museum, Wantage, New Jersey;

Various jewelry, and other items from multiple antique and jewelry stores in New York, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania.

The prosecution's case relied heavily on the testimony of Thomas Trotta, 49, a former resident of Moscow, Pennsylvania, who law enforcement identified as the ringleader behind the theft operation.  Prior to pleading guilty, state police had used newly acquired DNA evidence to link Trotta to several burglaries which ultimately resulted in him cooperating with state police and the FBI, informing detectives of the extent and scope of the gang's activities.

During his testimony, Trotta spoke of the destruction of the memorbilia for its base metal price, despite the fact that the objects were symbols of legacy.  In providing detailed accounts of the thefts during the trial of his associates, Trotta's testimony highlighted how the group of museum thieves stole the nine World Series rings, trying them on before they set about prying the gemstones out of them, then melting them down, along with the metal on the plaques in his garage.   His cooperation, although controversial, was pivotal in securing the convictions. 

Unfortunately, as this one described incident details, many of the items stolen are not recoverable as the were converted into metal discs or bars which the theft ring then sold in New York for the raw metals. 

Despite this, the trial's outcome has been met with a sense of justice by the numerous law enforcement agencies who worked on this multi-state investigation, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Pennsylvania State Police, the New Jersey State Police, the New York State Police, the New Jersey State Park Police, the Newport Police Department (Rhode Island), the Fargo Police Department (North Dakota), the Chester Police Department (New York), the Wyoming Regional Police Department (Pennsylvania), the Scranton Police Department, the Franklin Police Department (New Jersey), the Village of Goshen Police Department (New York), the Metropolitan Police Department (Washington, D.C.), the West Milford Township Police Department (New Jersey), the Montclair Police Department (New Jersey), the Saratoga Springs Police Department (New York), the Canastota Police Department (New York), the South Abington Police Department (Pennsylvania), the Bernards Township Police Department (New Jersey), the Salisbury Township Police Department (Pennsylvania), the Montclair State University Police Department (New Jersey), the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office (Pennsylvania), the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office (New Jersey), the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office (New Jersey), the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (New York), and the Madison County District Attorney’s Office (New York).  

While stolen memorabilia may not hold immense financial value, their historical and cultural significance still makes their loss irreplaceable.  Many of the objects targeted in ring's museum thefts, such as the championship belts, or award rings, carry deep personal and societal meaning, a value which cannot be calculated simply, and which transcends their monetary worth alone. These sports-related objects serve as tangible connections to the past, preserving the stories and achievements of their respective award winners, and these individual's importance within their communities. 

When stolen and melted down, these pieces of history are lost forever—depriving future generations of their educational and cultural importance. 

To read more on this case, check out this article by Ariel Sabar. 

During the night, between September 12th and 13th, yet another museum theft involving Chinese objects of porcelain occurred at the Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst theft in Köln (Cologne), Germany.  Around midnight, two burglars, one carrying a grey backpack, accessed the museum and one of the exhibition rooms after prying open a glazed side window facing Universitätsstrasse.  Once inside, the culprits made off with a total of nine objects from the museum's display cases, including porcelain vases, plates and jars dating from the the 16th to 19th century.  The works are believed to be worth more than 1 million euros. 

The city of Cologne has published photos of the nine rare objects taken during the incident.  They are: 

A Qing-Dynastie, Yongzheng-Period (1723-1735) Chinese Fencai rose coral-ground bowl with a Jiaqing seal mark of the period;

A large dish with dragon and phoenix design, 1 of 2, China, Jingdezhen kiln, Qing dynasty, Yongzheng period, (1723-1735);

A rare Ming Dynasty (1573-1619) Wucai "Phoenix" Double Gourd form Wall Vase depicting a pair of phoenix in flight amid ruyi-shaped clouds below a band of downward plantain leaves;

A Fencai Imperial Qing Dynasty (1796-1820) vase with Jiaqing mark and period;

A very rare Ming Dynasty (1521-1567) yellow-ground and iron-red decorated 'Dragon' jar, mark and period of Jiajing;

A porcelain, enamel dish with dragons and clouds, China, Imperial Porcelain Factory, Jingdezhen, Qing dynasty, Kangxi period (1662-1722);

A Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period (1736-1795) lotus pot; (NB The lid was left behind. )

A Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period (1736-1795) yellow-glazed nine dragon vase;

and an early 16th century (1506-1521), Ming Dynasty porcelain plate with Zhengde mark and period.

One of an ongoing series of thefts of this type, another was reported on the 14th of February at the Keramiekmuseum Princessehof in Leeuwarden.  In that incident, which also occurred in the early morning hours, the burglar, or burglars, entered the museum through its roof and stole 11 rare Chinese ceramics from the first floor. 

In ons museum is vanochtend vroeg ingebroken. Bij de inbraak zijn elf voorwerpen uit een installatie Chinees keramiek meegenomen, waarvan er zeven sneuvelden tijdens de vlucht naar buiten. Deze week houden we onze deuren gesloten i.v.m. politieonderzoek. https://t.co/ezapvQynUy pic.twitter.com/aJXLN7cxjG

— Princessehof (@Princessehof) February 13, 2023

The thief that burgled Greece’s National Gallery-Alexandros Soutsos Museum in Athens eleven years ago has been sentenced.  

Citing that the Court recognised the thief's good behaviour after his arrest for the heist, the Single-Member Court of Criminal Appeals of Athens handed down a six-year suspended probationary sentence with limited electronic monitoring, which will allow Giorgos Sarmantzopoulos, a circulating distance of three kilometres from his residence so that he can hold down a job and care of his elderly and sick parents. Previously, during the trial phase, he had been on complete house arrest.

On 9 January 2012, George S set off the security alarm at the Greek museum by opening a door 6 or 7 times, until the guard believed that the alarm system was malfunctioning and disabled the system. Then, at 4:30 a.m., he entered the museum through an separate unlocked balcony door and swiftly stripped four artworks from their frames, knocking others off the wall in doing so. 

Originally he selected: 

Head of a Woman, 1934 by Pablo Picasso

Stammer Windmill with Summer House, 1905 by Piet Mondrian 

Landscape with a Farm by Piet Mondrian 

St Diego de Alcala in Ecstasy with the Holy Trinity and the Symbols of Passion by Guglielmo Caccia, who was known as il Moncalvo.

Bringing the wider public's attention to works of art that have been stolen or lost has been a long-standing goal of the Association for Research into Crimes against Art.  But when Samsung reached out to us earlier this Autumn to curate a group of missing masterpieces, to be exhibited on The Frame TV, we combed through more than a hundred of the world’s most iconic and intriguing lost and stolen artworks before narrowing our selection down to a choice and meaningful handful.  

Some of these paintings, despite wide press coverage, have been missing for years, others were stolen in extraordinary heists. Sometimes the works were stolen in more banal circumstances and the fact that they may never be seen again makes their loss all the more poignant.   One painting was the art world's first victim of the Covid Pandemic, stolen on the artist’s birthday.   Others are artworks we selected because we know they are cherished locally, but lessor known to communities outside the artists' home countries.  In whittling down our selection, we knew our list would not have been complete, had we not addressed the subject of precious works of art which are lost to the world's eyes forever, artistic casualties lost to mankind's wars. 

Harnessing Samsung's power of technology to connect people in the search to find lost art from the comfort of their living rooms was a key goal of the Missing Masterpieces exhibition.  Scheduled to run from 12 November until 10 February, during the holiday season, our combined objective is to keep the global community searching for these missing masterpieces while scrolling through films and programs.  It only takes one valid clue to change the course of an investigation and return a fabulous work of art to its rightful owner placing it back on the wall, in its proper setting. 

Museums normally tell stories through the objects they have in their collections.  Samsung's initiative will allow everyone to step into ARCA's empty museum, to engage and reflect, to see and to learn, not looking at the art we have, but rather, exploring the precious art we haven’t, in the hopes that they might be found.

To learn more about The Frame TV which functions both as a TV and a multi-media art platform blending into home décor please visit the Missing Masterpieces website here.

If you have tips on where any of these artworks might be you can share them on social media using #MissingMasterpieces, or please write to us at: 

missingmasterpieces@artcrimeresearch.org

All leads will be forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement authority.