The Louvre failed to spot a gang of thieves early enough to stop the theft of €88m (£76m) worth of French crown jewels, the museum's director has revealed. Laurence des Cars, speaking publicly for the first time since the heist on Sunday, told French senators that CCTV around the Louvre's perimeter was weak and 'aging'. The only camera monitoring the exterior wall of the Louvre where they broke in was pointing away from the first-floor balcony that led to Gallery of Apollo housing the jewels, she said. 'We failed these jewels,' she said, adding that no one was protected from 'brutal criminals - not even the Louvre'. Ministers have given press conferences and interviews denying security failings, but des Cars admitted the Louvre had been 'defeated.' Her statements highlighted the challenges of securing the world's most visited museum and acknowledged that the CCTV system outside was 'very unsatisfactory.' Investment in security has been slow despite the museum's popularity, with plans to potentially double the number of CCTV cameras. Des Cars, who took on the role in 2021, noted that one camera monitoring the external wall was misaligned and missed vital security events that could have prevented the robbery. Although the museum has reopened, significant changes and improvements in security measures are required to protect its priceless collections.
Louvre Heist Exposed: Security Shortcomings Uncovered
Louvre Heist Exposed: Security Shortcomings Uncovered
The Louvre Museum failed to detect a heist worth €88 million, revealing substantial security flaws. Director Laurence des Cars admitted the CCTV system was outdated and ineffective.
Recently, a gang stole €88 million worth of French crown jewels from the Louvre, and the museum’s director, Laurence des Cars, has openly admitted to severe security inadequacies. The only exterior camera was misaligned, failing to capture the thieves' entry. The museum plans to improve surveillance, but past budget constraints have hindered progress. Des Cars acknowledged that the Louvre had been 'defeated' in this incident, raising concerns about the safety of its historic collections.
