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PARIS, France: Two men have been arrested in connection with the theft of crown jewels from the Louvre Museum in Paris, officials said over the weekend — a week after the daring heist shocked the world and triggered a massive manhunt.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said the arrests were made on the evening of October 25. One was caught while boarding a plane to Algeria, and the other was identified through DNA evidence found at the scene. Forensics experts had collected around 150 samples from the museum.

French media reported that both suspects were taken into custody. Prosecutor Laure Beccuau did not say whether any of the stolen jewels, worth about 88 million euros ($102 million), had been recovered.

A police official told the Associated Press that the two men, both in their 30s and already known to police, were arrested separately.

The suspects can be held for up to 96 hours while investigators question them.

The theft took place on the morning of October 19 and lasted less than eight minutes. Thieves used a basket lift to climb the Louvre’s outer wall, forced open a window, smashed display cases, and escaped with the jewels. The museum’s director called the robbery a “terrible failure.”

Investigators from a special police unit for major crimes and art theft made the arrests. Beccuau criticized the early leaks to the media, saying they could harm the work of more than 100 officers who were trying to recover the jewels and catch all those involved.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez praised the investigators for their “tireless work” on the high-profile case.

The Louvre reopened earlier this week after the robbery, which many in France compared to the 2019 fire at Notre Dame Cathedral because of its cultural impact.

The thieves stole eight precious objects, including:

• A sapphire diadem, necklace, and earring once owned by Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense.
• An emerald necklace and earrings linked to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon’s second wife.
• A diamond diadem and corsage brooch that belonged to Empress Eugénie.

One item — Eugénie’s emerald crown, set with over 1,300 diamonds — was later found damaged but repairable near the museum.

News of the arrests brought relief to visitors outside the Louvre on October 26.

“It’s important for our heritage,” said Freddy Jacquemet. “It feels a bit late, but I’m glad they caught them.”