The story sounds almost cinematic. A Paris-born biker and social media influencer, known for his motorbike stunts and community spirit, is now accused of pulling off one of the most audacious jewellery heists in French history. Abdoulaye N, a 39-year-old resident of Aubervilliers, north of Paris, was once admired in his neighbourhood for inspiring youth and performing daring motorcycle tricks. Today, he stands accused of helping steal French Crown Jewels worth over $100 million from the Louvre Museum’s famed Apollo Gallery in broad daylight.
The influencer turned suspect
According to reports in French media, Abdoulaye N, better known online as Doudou Cross Bitume, was arrested at his home by French police last month. His arrest sent shockwaves through Aubervilliers, where locals viewed him as a local legend rather than a criminal. “He grew up here and he’s a legend for an entire generation,” a 42-year-old resident named Ahmad told Le Parisien.
Doudou gained fame years ago through his motorbike videos and his catchphrase “Toujours plus près du bitume” (“Always closer to the tarmac”). Though he quit professional racing more than 16 years ago, the phrase became his identity and cemented his popularity online.
On YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, he often posted clips of motorbike stunts across Paris or shared fitness routines and mentoring moments with local youth. He also held regular jobs, working for UPS, Toys R Us, and even as a security guard at the Pompidou Centre art museum.
Residents describe him as a kind, reliable man. “I just can’t believe it was him. It isn’t like him at all. He wears his heart on his sleeve,” said Samia, a neighbour interviewed by Le Parisien. “He’s very obliging, always ready to help neighbours who can’t carry their bags of shopping.”
How the biker got linked to the Louvre robbery
The disbelief, however, collided with mounting evidence. According to investigators cited in French media, Abdoulaye N’s DNA was reportedly found on a display case and on several tools abandoned at the scene, including gloves, a high-visibility vest, and disc cutters. The items were recovered after a group of four men allegedly stormed the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery in broad daylight and stole eight pieces from the French Crown Jewels collection.
“I knew he had been in prison, but from that to robbing the Louvre, I’m flabbergasted,” said another resident, quoted by Le Parisien. “He isn’t a hoodlum. It wasn’t an armed robbery. He’s really nice. When we go on holiday, he keeps an eye on our flat.”
A record that caught up with him
While many neighbours remember Abdoulaye as a generous figure, police records tell a different story. According to several French outlets, he has 15 prior offences — including drug possession, driving without a licence, and endangering others. Most notably, he was convicted of robbing a jewellery store in 2014.
He also had a court appearance scheduled this week for a smaller offence: breaking a mirror and damaging a cell door in prison in 2019. That case stemmed from an earlier theft investigation in which he was later cleared.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau told the Associated Press that Abdoulaye had “partially admitted” to taking part in the Louvre robbery. He now faces charges of organised theft and criminal conspiracy.
How the $100 million Louvre heist unfolded
The theft, which has stunned France, took place in broad daylight. According to investigators, a four-member gang used a stolen truck with an extendable ladder and freight lift to reach a first-floor window of the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery. Two men then smashed through the glass window and display cases while two accomplices waited below on motorbikes.
Within seven minutes, the group vanished, taking with them eight priceless jewels, including an emerald-and-diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon I to his wife Marie Louise and a pearl-and-diamond diadem once belonging to Napoleon III’s wife.
Despite the precision, investigators suspect the gang were “amateurs.” They dropped the most valuable item -- the crown of Empress Eugenie -- while fleeing and left behind gloves, helmets, and tools containing DNA traces.
A gang of small-time thieves under investigation
Authorities believe Abdoulaye N and his alleged accomplices are low-level criminals without strong ties to organised crime. However, police suspect a more experienced mastermind may have orchestrated the heist.
Three men and one woman, the partner of one of the suspects, are currently in custody. All three male suspects already had criminal records for theft and traffic violations, which helped police trace them through France’s DNA database.
Meanwhile, experts have criticised the Louvre’s long-standing security lapses. Libération reported that as far back as 2014, the museum’s video surveillance password was simply “LOUVRE,” while a software program provided by defence firm Thales used “THALES” as its password.
Where are the stolen jewels?
For now, investigators are still hunting for the missing jewels. Detectives fear that the stolen items may have already been dismantled or melted down for resale, possibly smuggled out of France.
As Abdoulaye N awaits trial, his fall from being a beloved local hero to an accused jewel thief continues to baffle his community. To many, the question remains: how did a man known for “always being close to the tarmac” get caught up in one of France’s most high-profile museum robberies?
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