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UPDATE: Paris, France- Five more arrested in Louvre heist investigation as stolen crown jewels worth $102M still missing

by ArrestsBurglaryCrime SuspectsInternational

Paris, France – Five more suspects have been arrested in connection with the daring daytime heist of the French crown jewels from the Louvre Museum, French investigators announced Thursday, though the priceless treasures remain missing.

Police carried out the arrests in separate operations across Paris and neighboring areas, including the Seine-Saint-Denis region, prosecutor Laure Beccuau told RTL radio. The identities of the suspects have not been released.

One of the newly arrested individuals is suspected of being part of the four-person team that stormed the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery in broad daylight on Oct. 19, stealing jewels valued at 88 million euros ($102 million) in less than eight minutes.

“Searches last night and overnight did not allow us to find the goods,” Beccuau said.

LOUVRE HEIST ADDS TO HISTORY OF HIGH-PROFILE MUSEUM BREACHES, LEAVES OTHER GALLERIES ON EDGE

People walking in the courtyard of the Louvre Museum

People tour the courtyard of the Louvre Museum in the rain Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Two other members of the team were arrested Sunday and given preliminary charges Wednesday of criminal conspiracy and theft committed by an organized gang. Beccuau said both have at least in part recognized their involvement in the heist.

One suspect, a 34-year-old Algerian national living in France since 2010, was arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport attempting to flee to Algeria on a one-way ticket. He lived in the northern Paris suburb of Aubervilliers and was previously known to police for traffic violations. His DNA was recovered from a scooter used in the getaway.

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau speaking

Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau speaks during a news conference at the Paris courthouse Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, on the judicial investigation into the robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)

The second suspect, 39, was arrested at his home in Aubervilliers. He was known to police for multiple prior thefts. Investigators matched his DNA to a glass display case that held the stolen jewels, as well as to items the thieves left behind, the prosecutor added.

BRAZEN LOUVRE ROBBERY CREW MAY HAVE BEEN HIRED BY COLLECTOR, PROSECUTOR SAYS

The thieves used a basket lift to scale the museum’s exterior, forced open a window, and used cutting tools to open display cases in the Apollo Gallery. They escaped with eight historic pieces, including:

– A sapphire diadem, necklace, and earring set linked to Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense

– An emerald necklace and earrings belonging to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon’s second wife

– A reliquary brooch

– Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and elaborate corsage-bow brooch

Eugénie’s emerald-encrusted crown – set with over 1,300 diamonds – was later found damaged but recoverable outside the museum.

Louvre Director Laurence des Cars acknowledged a “terrible failure” in museum security. However, Beccuau said there is no evidence the theft was an inside job.

police car parked outside Louvre Museum

A police car parks in the courtyard of the Louvre Museum, one week after the robbery, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thomas Padilla)

In a direct appeal to those holding the missing jewels, Beccuau on Wednesday night warned they are “unsellable” due to their historical significance and urged their return.

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“Anyone who buys them would be guilty of concealment of stolen goods,” she said. “There’s still time to give them back.”

Article provided by Fox News, click HERE to view.

Handcuffs

PRESS RELEASE- Lehigh Acres, FL- Jewel Thief Sentenced to Life in Prison.

by ArrestsBurglaryCrime Suspects

Lehigh Acres, FL- This morning, jewel thief Juan Antonio Manresa Leyva, 55, was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to life in prison for an elaborate jewelry store burglary in Lehigh Acres. He was convicted of Grand Theft Over $100,000, First Degree Burglary Causing Damage Over $1,000, and Possession of Burglary Tools, following a trial in September.

The defendant has an extensive criminal history of gem and jewelry heists along the East Coast of the U.S., as well as crimes across the country. He was part of a crime ring that targeted jewelry stores and pawn shops. They would commit the crimes in the same way it was done in this case, by cutting a hole in the roof, disabling alarms and cameras, and using torches to access the safe.

Deputy Chief Assistant State Attorney Abraham Thornburg and Circuit Court Chief Assistant State Attorney Stephanie Russell prosecuted this case involving the burglary of a jewelry store in Lehigh Acres on February 11, 2024.

The crime started in the overnight hours as the defendant and two other men gained entry into the building, by cutting through the roof. They cut through many layers of the wall, including the HVAC system and duct work. They then gained entry to the room that contained a giant safe and broke into the safe with a cutting torch. They pulled jewels out of the safe and tried to flee as law enforcement arrived. The store owners had seen activity on a security camera, that the thieves missed, and called 911 as the heist was in progress.

Lee County Sheriff’s Deputies, utilizing infrared cameras on a helicopter, captured the defendant, hiding in a nearby wooded area, after jumping off the roof.

The defendant was previously convicted in a RICO conspiracy case out of Clay County, Florida and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was released in 2020 after serving more than 9 years. That case consisted of 21 jewelry stores and pawn shops that were burglarized in Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Connecticut. Upon release he committed burglary and grand theft in Sarasota County and was convicted of the crimes. He was released from prison in that case in August 2023. He committed these new crimes here in Lee County, six months after being released from prison.

Due to today’s sentence, he will now serve the rest of his life in prison.

Press release provided by Samantha Syoen – State Attorney’s Office Communications Director.

greenville

GREENVILLE, N.C.- Suspect falls through ceiling in failed North Carolina jewelry store heist.

by ArrestsBurglaryCrime NewsCrime SuspectsCrimes

GREENVILLE, N.C. – A pair of suspects from Belgium and Romania are in custody after a failed heist at a jewelry store, according to the Greenville Police Department.

At around 3:59 a.m. on Thursday, officers came to Bailey’s Jewelry on 511 Red Banks Road in Greenville after responding to an alarm.

Police arrived at the scene three minutes later and heard movement in the ceiling of the jewelry store. They issued multiple commands for the suspects to leave the store and the two men were later taken into custody. A large quantity of jewelry was recovered at the scene.

Investigators say one of the suspects was taken to the hospital as he fell through the ceiling during the attempted heist before being released back into police custody.

One of the suspects was identified as Cristi-Catalin Balaban, 31, of Romania. Balaban is being charged with felony breaking and entering and felony attempted larceny.

The second suspect initially provided police with a false name and passport. With the help of the FBI, he was later identified as Nicolae Aramis Stefanuca, 50, of Romania. Stefanuca is being charged with felony breaking and entering, felony attempted larceny and felony obstructing justice.

Both of the suspects are being held in the Pitt County Detention Center.

Investigators say they are working with the FBI and the United States Department of State to determine whether or not the pair committed any additional crimes.

The investigation is still active and police say more charges are possible.

Article provided by Fox 8 News, click here to view.

money

New York, NY- Tons of cocaine, $100M cash shipped from LA to NYC via luxury flights, feds allege

by ArrestsCrime SuspectsCrimesUncategorized

New York, NY– Five people were arrested Tuesday in connection with a sprawling cross-country drug trafficking organization that funneled some 22 tons of cocaine and over $100 million in cash between Los Angeles and New York, officials with the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

Prosecutors said in a news release that the organizations’ alleged ringleaders, 45-year-old David Rodriguez, aka “Gotti” and “Fat Boy,” of Dumont, New Jersey, and 39-year-old Raymond O’Connell, aka “Sal” and “White Boy,” of Manhattan, have been in custody since 2024.

The two men are accused of purchasing and shipping bulk quantities of cocaine stored at an office fronting as a jewelry store in the California Jewelry Mart in downtown L.A.

Cocaine was reportedly shipped in locked plastic cases concealed in New York City’s Diamond District using what the DOJ described as “high-value freight forwarding companies” that specialize in shipping jewelry, precious metals and fine art.

Once Rodriguez and O’Connell redistributed the drugs to co-conspirators on the East Coast, prosecutors allege, they directed the cash proceeds to L.A., where others in the organization laundered the cash.

Investigators said that more than 800 parcels of coke were shipped from L.A. to New York, an estimated 22 tons of the drug, with an estimated street value of $315 million. More than 500 parcels were shipped from New York to L.A. with an estimated street value of $105 million.

“During the investigation, law enforcement seized more than $2.8 million in cash drug proceeds and more than 725 kilograms (nearly 1,600 pounds) of cocaine, as well as high-end cars and jewelry that defendants purchased using drug proceeds,” the release noted.

Another defendant in the case, 47-year-old New York City resident Ronnell Sweat, pleaded guilty to federal firearm charges in 2024 and is currently serving a 15-year sentence in federal prison, according to the DOJ.

Five additional arrests made Tuesday in connection with the drug trafficking organization, including:

52-year-old Brooklyn resident Jamel Donald Levy
50-year-old Bronx resident Bruce Adams
33-year-old Englewood, New Jersey, resident Cindy Rachel Imbert
30-year-old downtown L.A. resident Nohely Jimenez
42-year-old downtown L.A. resident Lorna “Cookie” Martinez
All three defendants from the East Coast made their initial court appearances on Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, while both L.A. defendants are due to appear in Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday.

Authorities have yet to announce exactly what charges the five defendants arrested on Tuesday are facing.

Rodriquez and O’Connell were charged by federal prosecutors with the following counts:

Engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise
Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine
Four counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine
Conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and money laundering
“If convicted, Rodriguez and O’Connell would face mandatory sentences of life in federal prison. The cocaine distribution charges carry a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment,” the release detailed. “The money laundering-related counts are punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.”

Investigators are still trying to locate two other defendants charged in the superseding indictment: 52-year-old Daniel “Nice” Vega and 40-year-old Gregory “G” Antonio Benitez, both residents of New York City.

Article provided by Fox 59 News, click HERE to view.

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2 suspects killed in ‘gun battle’ with Oakland pawn shop owner after attempted robbery

by Armed RobberyArrestsCrime SuspectsCrime VideosUncategorized

OAKLAND, CA. — Two people were shot dead and four were injured during a robbery attempt at a pawn shop in East Oakland on Wednesday evening, according to police.

Just before 7:45 p.m., several people were shot in the 7100 block of International Boulevard at the Cash 4 Gold pawn shop, according to the police officers’ union.

According to the preliminary investigation, individuals armed with weapons entered the pawn shop and an exchange of gunfire took place between these individuals and the workers inside the establishment, the department said.

When officers arrived at the scene, they located multiple people who were struck by the gunfire. Medical personnel confirmed that one person was deceased. Five other people who were struck by gunfire, including the business owner, were taken to an area hospital, where a second person was confirmed dead, the Oakland Police Department said. The remaining three suspects were in stable condition as of 10:30 p.m., and the owner is expected to survive, according to Oakland Police Officers Association spokesperson Sam Singer. Singer said a robber allegedly pulled a gun on the store owner, who then pulled a gun on the robber and four accomplices. A “major gun battle” ensued, said Singer.

The store owner allegedly shot and killed the two people and wounded the other three. Detectives are conducting a follow-up investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, the department said. The Oakland Police Department will be holding a press conference on Thursday.

Article provided by ABC News, click here to view.

fordham

Bronx, NY- Attempted armed robbery at jewelry store ends in Fordham section of the Bronx arrests.

by Armed RobberyArrestsCrime SuspectsCrime Videos

Bronx, NY– A bold attempted robbery at a jewelry store in one of the Bronx’s busiest shopping districts was stopped in its tracks Thursday afternoon, ending with three suspects in custody and a heavy police presence on the scene.

The incident unfolded at Greenyes Jewelry on Fordham Road, where police say three masked men tried to rob the store in broad daylight – a shocking act given that recent city data shows robberies in the area have dropped by nearly 30% over the past month.

In video obtained from a witness, crowds can be seen quickly gathering outside the store as the situation unfolded. Moments later, several NYPD officers can be seen rushing into the store. A man in handcuffs is later seen lying on the ground, surrounded by police. Jenny, a local resident who was inside the store at the time of the incident, described the chaos.

“[The men] have half their faces covered. They got inside and they were enraged. I got scared when I saw them draw a gun- I just knew they would start shooting.” she said.

Police tell News 12 that all three suspects were arrested and that guns were recovered at the scene. No injuries have been reported at this time. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine what led up to the attempted robbery and whether the suspects are connected to any other crimes in the area.

Article provided by News 12, click here to view video news feed.

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Cache County, UT- Woman suspected of stealing $5,000 in jewelry from Logan store extradited to face charges.

by ArrestsCrime Suspectsdistraction theft

Cache County, UT– A woman wanted since 2022 for allegedly stealing over $5,000 in jewelry from a Logan jewelry store was extradited Wednesday and is now in the custody of the Cache County Jail, according to Logan City Police Department Lt. Derek Dickey.

Marioara Munteanu, 43, is being held on suspicion of second-degree felony retail theft. Court documents show Munteanu is wanted in multiple jurisdictions on similar charges. According to Dickey, she was extradited from Madison, Wisconsin.

Logan District Court issued a warrant for Munteanu’s arrest on June 2, 2022. According to the affidavit for arrest warrant, Logan City Police Department received report of the theft on May 25, 2022.

The store owner reportedly told police a man and a woman entered the store, stayed for about 30 minutes, then left without attempting to buy anything.

According to the affidavit, the owner suspected the couple may have been attempting to steal jewelry, so employees tried to keep a close eye on them. Surveillance video reviewed after the couple left showed they concealed multiple items and left without paying.

The owner reported six items were stolen, totaling “well over $5,000.”

Investigators distributed footage of the incident to the Jewelers’ Security Alliance network, and a contact identified one of the suspects as Munteanu.

According to a JSA crime alert from Jan. 2022, Munteanu is believed to be a member of an international group of “distraction thieves.” At the time, she was also a suspect in multiple jewelry thefts in Tennessee, Maryland and Georgia.

Munteanu is scheduled to appear before First District Judge Brian Cannell on Wednesday, Sept. 3. She is being held without bail in the Cache County Jail.

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MARTIN COUNTY, Fla- Martin County deputies arrest Romanian ‘traveling criminal’ found with $400K of stolen jewelry

by Arrestsdistraction theft

MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — A Romanian man was arrested in Martin County after being caught with over $400,000 of stolen jewelry.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) arrested Marcu Rostas, 33, along Martin Downs Boulevard on Monday. Inside Rostas’ vehicle, they found high-end watches, a $40,000 diamond ring, gold chains, gold coins and $30,000 in cash. Police say the stolen jewelry was found inside a stuffed animal.

According to MCSO, Rostas was a “traveling criminal” wanted in multiple states and was in the United States illegally, having possessed multiple fake identifications. His arrest came one day after he stole from a jewelry store in Stuart.

During the arrest, detectives found that Rostas’ son was wearing a stolen Rolex watch valued at $40,000, and his daughter was wearing a stolen high-end necklace. Rostas’ wife, who was also in the vehicle, was not arrested and is in contact with Immigration Services.

MCSO says an ICE detainer has been placed on Rostas.

Article provided by WPTV- West Palm Beach News, click here to view Article.

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Chattanooga, TN- Man pleads guilty to Chattanooga jewelry store robbery with 57-month prison sentence deal.

by Armed RobberyArrestsCrime Suspects

Chattanooga, TN– A man pleaded guilty Wednesday in Chattanooga’s federal court to a 2021 jewelry store robbery in Hamilton Place mall.

Joshua Lishun Brewer, 29, is expected to serve a 57-month prison sentence for obstructing, delaying and affecting interstate commerce by committing a robbery at Markman’s Diamonds.

“It’s a big decision not only in your life but in the life of the case,” Magistrate Judge Mike Dumitru said from the bench.

The details of the robbery were not discussed in court, but Brewer’s plea agreement detailed the Dec. 17, 2021, incident.

Brewer went inside Markman’s Diamonds with two unknown accomplices and started to yell at those inside to get down, the plea said.

A store employee told authorities she hid underneath a desk and watched as her colleagues were zip-tied at gun point, the plea said.

The woman allegedly told Chattanooga police officers the robbers took her wallet, cell phone and an assortment of jewelry from the store.

When police recovered her phone, it was found to have Brewer’s thumbprint on it, according to the plea.

Markman’s has been the target of repeated burglaries over the decades — one in 1986, 2012 and 2016, according to Chattanooga Times Free Press archives.

Dumitru said he had only met Brewer twice in the worst possible circumstances a person could meet somebody.

Brewer is a young man, who still has time to turn his life around after he serves his sentence, Dumitru said. He wished Brewer luck and said to think of loved ones and the future.

“I hope that your life ends up exactly the way you want it to,” Dumitru said to Brewer.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 9.

Brewer is also facing over a dozen state-level charges including aggravated kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated robbery, theft over $10,000 and false imprisonment, according to the Hamilton County Criminal Court clerk’s office.

Article provided by the Chattanooga Times, click HERE to view article.

jeweler arrest

Decatur, GA – Trinity man charged for stealing $114k from Decatur jewelry store he worked at for decades

by ArrestsCrime SuspectsDaily Blog

Decatur, GA– A former jeweler who had worked at Jimmy Smith Jewelers for three decades was charged last Tuesday with stealing more than $114,000 in jewelry and money from the store.

Joel Phillip Ghrigsby, 63, was charged with first-degree theft of property and transported to Morgan County Jail, where he was initially held in lieu of a $30,000 bond, jail records show, which was since amended to a $7,500 cash-only bond. He remained in jail Wednesday evening, according to jail records.

On Aug. 6, a Decatur business owner reported an internal theft from the business, according to the affidavit. Ghrigsby was then developed as a suspect.

On Aug. 12, Decatur police, with assistance from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, served a search and arrest warrant at a residence in the 20000 block of County Road 460 in Trinity, according to police, and Ghrigsby was placed under arrest.

According to the affidavit, Ghrigsby stole more than $114,000 in property over the past five years “and much more over the past 10 years.”

Jimmy Smith of Jimmy Smith Jewelers on Wednesday said the stolen property did not include customers’ jewelry or products. The affidavit said Ghrigsby stole jewelry, money and precious metals from the business.

Smith said Ghrigsby had worked as a jeweler at the store for more than 30 years and retired in January 2024. He last spoke with Ghrigsby a few months ago.

“His wife worked here, too,” Smith said. “Just great people; this is such a shock to me. I’d say we had a great working relationship when he decided to retire.”

Ghrigsby had dropped his store-provided benefits in favor of a Christian-based health care sharing program, according to Smith, then took a job driving a school bus for Morgan County Schools to regain benefits while still working at the store. After he retired, Smith was alerted about some of the content Ghrigsby was posting on Facebook.

“Someone told me he’d been going on cruises and trips,” Smith said. “Sounds like he was having a big time.”

According to his Facebook page, Ghrigsby also works as a bankruptcy petition specialist and is a certified paralegal and notary public. Smith said Ghrigsby served as a notary public for him and his employees.

Article provided by the Moultan Advertiser, click HERE to view article.