In a candid admission, the Director of the Louvre, Laurence des Cars, has revealed that the iconic museum suffered from critical security shortcomings, enabling thieves to steal French crown jewels valued at €88 million (£76 million). Speaking to French senators, des Cars stated that the museum’s CCTV system was outdated and insufficient, with the camera monitoring the specific wall breached by the thieves pointing away from the critical area.
Describing the incident as a failure to protect the invaluable jewels, she admitted, “We failed these jewels,” and that “no-one was protected from brutal criminals – not even the Louvre.” She further confessed that the museum had been “defeated” by the sophistication of the heist. The report highlighted that investment in security has lagged, despite the museum attracting 8.7 million visitors last year, and that some areas of the historic building are too old to accommodate modern surveillance technology.
Des Cars, who took over as director in 2021, expressed her desire to double the number of CCTV cameras and noted she was warned about the “obsolete” equipment upon starting her tenure, contrasting it with the modern systems at the Musée d’Orsay. Senators expressed disbelief at the security’s inadequacy, particularly the single camera that failed to capture the thieves’ arrival.
Despite the admitted security flaws, ministers have largely denied failings. Des Cars defended her position, stating she had raised concerns about the Louvre’s security for some time and had even offered her resignation, which was refused. She conveyed her personal distress over the incident, stating, “I am wounded… that the warnings I was raising… have come to pass.” The investigation into the four thieves is ongoing, with authorities believing they acted on behalf of a criminal organization.