Woman charged over Louvre jewellery heist

A woman has been charged over a theft at the Louvre Museum in Paris last month, French media report.

The 38-year-old, who has not been named, was charged with complicity in organised theft and criminal conspiracy with a view to committing a crime. She appeared before a magistrate, who will decide whether to detain her.

The woman was arrested earlier this week with four others. Two men who had previously been arrested were already charged with theft and criminal conspiracy after officials said they had “partially recognised” their involvement in the heist.

Jewels worth €88m (£76m; $102m) were taken from the world’s most-visited museum on 19 October.

Four men carried out the daylight theft.

Two of the alleged thieves – who had been arrested earlier – later admitted their involvement in the theft, while the fourth person has not yet been caught.

Appearing before the magistrate on Saturday, the woman was in tears as she confirmed that she lived in Paris’ northern suburb of La Courneuve suburb, a journalist working for the AFP news agency reported.

The hearing then continued behind closed doors at the prosecution’s request.

She was one of the five people arrested earlier this week in and around the French capital, including the suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis. One of those held has been released without charge.

However, one of the five is thought to have taken part in the heist.