Viral Mugshots Linked to Louvre Heist Are Not of Suspects
False claims circulating on social media identifying suspects in the recent Louvre Museum heist have been debunked, revealing the images are years-old mugshots of individuals unrelated to the crime.
The viral posts included a mugshot of actor Chace Crawford from a 2010 arrest, alongside a photo of Stefan Dolbashian, a dance professor and choreographer. Dolbashian confirmed the image is his, stemming from a 2010 burglary arrest in Florida, where charges were later dropped. “At first I just laughed it off…but that same day and several days after it seemed like almost everyone I’ve ever met in life reached out to me asking if the picture was me,” Dolbashian told TODAY.com. He added that his employers are aware of the renewed attention and are “having a good laugh about it all.” Another image featured Dolbashian with an unidentified man previously featured in mugshot roundups.
The incident comes as French authorities continue their investigation into the October 19th theft of eight French crown jewels, valued at over $100 million, from the Galerie d’Apollon. To date, four suspects have been charged in connection with the heist, which involved thieves using a furniture-lift truck to access the room and escaping on scooters. Police initially took two men in their early 30s into custody on October 25th, both with prior records for jewel theft, according to Axel Ronde, a spokesman for the French police union CFTC. Five additional arrests were made on October 29th, with three subsequently released. You can find more information about the ongoing investigation from the Associated Press.
The Louvre heist has raised concerns about security vulnerabilities at world-renowned museums, prompting reviews of safety protocols globally. Officials stated that the investigation is ongoing and they are continuing to pursue leads to recover the stolen jewels.
