Paris prosecutor announces five new arrests in investigation into Louvre crown jewel heist. The five were detained late on Wednesday night in Paris, Prosecutor Laure Beccuau told RTL radio.

She did not release their identities or other details. Two suspects arrested earlier were given preliminary charges Wednesday and partially admitted their responsibility, according to the prosecutor. The heist, which took place on October 18, saw more than £76 million worth of jewellery stolen in broad daylight including the French crown jewels, according to prosecutors.

Four thieves arrived with a vehicle-mounted mechanical lift, or a cherry picker, to gain access to the Gallery of Apollo.

An emerald necklace and earrings, two crowns, two brooches, a sapphire necklace and a single earring were stolen which saw thieves use a truck equipped with a cherry picker to gain access to the Gallery of Apollo.

The jewels remain missing. But Beccuau remains hopeful that the stolen jewels can be brought back to the nation.

“I want to remain hopeful that [the jewels] will be found and they can be brought back to the Louvre, and more broadly to the nation”, she said.

A crown that once belonged to Empress Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon III, was dropped by the thieves as they fled. Damage to the crown is still being assessed, Beccuau added.

On the day of the heist Beccuau said the thieves arrived at 9:30 and were inside for four minutes. Alarms drew Louvre agents to the gallery, forcing the intruders to bolt — but the theft was already done.

They made their escape on two scooters waiting outside at 09:38, before switching to cars and heading east.

France’s justice minister said the security protocols “failed” and had left France with a “terrible image”.

On Friday, the Louvre transferred some of its most precious jewels to the Bank of France after the heist exposed embarrassing flaws in the museum’s security.