By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Abdoulaye N, a 39-year-old social media personality with a history of minor offenses, is a suspect in the theft of €88m of crown jewels from the Louvre, with his DNA reportedly found at the scene. He is accused of organized theft and criminal conspiracy, and is believed to have been one of the individuals who broke into the Apollo gallery. The suspects reportedly used a stolen truck and motorbikes in the heist, which took under seven minutes. Abdoulaye N, who has partially admitted involvement, is known for his motorbike stunts and has previously worked security and logistics.
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Louvre heist suspect is a social media star and former museum security guard, reports say. Well, this is a story that has it all, isn’t it? A supposed heist at the Louvre, a social media star, and a former security guard? It’s like the perfect recipe for a movie, or maybe a Netflix series. We’re talking about Abdoulaye N., a 39-year-old man who has been arrested in connection with the alleged heist. The drama started when he was nabbed at his home in Aubervilliers, the northern Paris suburb where he was born, a mere six days after the incident.
The details are slowly coming out, and they just keep getting more intriguing. For starters, it’s been reported that he wasn’t actually a security guard at the Louvre itself. Apparently, his former workplace was the Centre Pompidou, a museum of modern art. Still, the fact that he has a background in security, even at a different museum, automatically suggests some inside knowledge and perhaps a familiarity with security systems that could be exploited. Let’s be honest, any inside job, especially in a place like a museum, often benefits from someone who knows the layout and the weak spots.
And here’s where it gets even more interesting: He’s a social media personality. The internet is littered with his presence, and we’re told he’s not exactly shy about broadcasting his activities. Some of those activities seem to have landed him in trouble before, as he already has a criminal record that features 15 offences, including drug possession, driving without a license, and causing danger to others. He was also convicted of a jewelry store robbery back in 2014, making this latest incident seem like perhaps, a pattern of behavior.
This whole scenario is practically begging to be made into a film. The idea of someone with such a diverse background – security guard turned social media star with a taste for the illicit – attempting a heist at a world-famous museum is just too good. There’s mention of references to the Netflix series “Lupin,” which seems almost too on the nose. Let’s just say, the plot thickens.
Given his previous escapades, one can’t help but wonder how he managed to land a job as a security guard in the first place, and what training he might have actually had. It’s a low-paying job, and maybe the requirements aren’t that stringent, but still. One would think a history of criminal activity might raise a few eyebrows. Regardless, he clearly gained some valuable insights, right down to which areas in the museum had less security coverage.
The mention of another suspect being involved in the 2014 robbery adds a layer of complexity. It suggests a potential network, maybe a group that has worked together before. It also shows a certain level of audacity when it comes to planning the heist and getting away with it. You’ve got to wonder if these guys were just a part of the bigger scheme.
It seems his own mother would have had trouble keeping him in line. The idea of prison containing someone like this, especially if there’s an element of a social media following in the mix, does seem like quite a challenge. The fact that the story came to light after the heist makes it all the more fascinating, and makes one wonder if all the clues were intentionally left to find.
The security at the Louvre has been called into question, as well. Even the most basic liquor stores are often fitted with comprehensive camera systems, yet here we have a museum with priceless artifacts. The lack of security cameras and the fact that there are areas without CCTV coverage is mind-boggling, particularly for such a high-profile location.
And then there’s the question of motivation. Was it simply about the thrill, the notoriety, or the potential financial gain? Was there a social media strategy involved from the get-go? With all of his history and past, one wonders if he thought that this could be just another win for him.
One also has to wonder about the potential consequences and the possibility of other crimes in his past. His criminal record featuring so many offenses hints at a lifestyle, or perhaps a mindset, that makes him more willing to take risks and challenge authority.
It is also likely that the legal process will be quite the spectacle. This guy, with his history and social media presence, will probably command a lot of attention. The media will eat this up. We can only wait and see what the court proceedings will reveal.