Paris’s iconic Louvre Museum has finally reopened its doors after a shocking daylight robbery saw four thieves make off with invaluable jewelry. This incident has put immense pressure on French authorities to seriously re-evaluate the security protocols at the world-renowned cultural landmark.
On Sunday, the audacious culprits utilized an electric ladder and power tools to breach the Apollo Gallery, making away with eight priceless pieces of royal jewelry. French authorities estimate the stolen collection to be worth well over $100 million.
The Apollo Gallery, located on the second floor and home to France’s cherished crown jewels, remains closed to the public.
This high-profile theft has ignited a fierce debate regarding the adequacy of security measures protecting the Louvre’s vast collection. Laurence des Cars, the museum’s director, who has maintained public silence since the incident, is anticipated to face rigorous questioning during a Senate hearing later today.
More than a hundred investigators are tirelessly working to track down the thieves. Art crime experts are concerned the stolen jewelry might be dismantled, with its precious stones and metals sold separately on the illicit black market.
France’s Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, expressed confidence on Europe 1 radio, stating, “I have every confidence in their ability to find the perpetrators despite the passing days.”
However, the government’s stance on accountability has been inconsistent. On Monday, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin frankly admitted on French radio, “We failed.”
Yet, just a day later, Culture Minister Rachida Dati countered in Parliament that the Louvre’s security “did not fail.” She confirmed an internal investigation is underway and highlighted ongoing efforts to install more surveillance cameras and establish new security command centers.
Once a royal palace, the Louvre was transformed into a museum after the French Revolution. It’s a colossal labyrinth, showcasing over 30,000 of its half-million artworks across more than 400 rooms. As the world’s most-visited museum, it saw a steady stream of visitors eagerly entering its reopened doors on Wednesday.
Carole Chevallier, a 42-year-old artist who has spent months reproducing a 17th-century Dutch painting, emotionally stated, “It’s my home. I’ve been coming here for 15 or 20 years, ever since I was an art student.”
While waiting to enter, she added, “I’m keen to see how the museum will adjust its security, and if this incident will cause any disruption to our work.”
Other museum-goers expressed disappointment about the closed Apollo Gallery and voiced their shock over the brazen robbery.
Karine Pivetta, 38, visiting from southern France, lamented, “I would have liked to see it. These are the jewels of our history, of France’s history.”
Her son, Lucas, was less concerned, eager only to see the famous Mona Lisa. However, Emilie Sarran, 39, who joined them, expressed her astonishment at the theft: “It is surprising that in a big museum like the Louvre they could do that.”
Director des Cars, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron in 2021 as the museum’s first female president-director, has refrained from public comment. Yet, the robbery has reignited concerns about insufficient surveillance cameras, the efficacy of alarm systems, and the supposed ‘strength’ of the glass display cases, which the thieves easily breached with power tools.
Even before the robbery, France’s national auditor, the Cour des Comptes, had begun compiling a report on security at the Louvre. A confidential draft, obtained by The New York Times, revealed alarming findings: inadequate video surveillance, significant cuts and delays in security investments over recent years, and a fundamental misjudgment of overall priorities.
The draft report further highlighted that security spending in 2024 was drastically lower than two decades prior.
Pierre Moscovici, head of the Cour des Comptes, announced on Wednesday that the full report would be released in the coming weeks. However, he told RTL radio that it “does not reveal anything that is unknown to the administration,” implying that French authorities were, in fact, aware of these security vulnerabilities before the heist.
With an annual operating budget of approximately $300 million, a third of which comes from the French state, the Louvre is more than just a museum.
Attracting nearly nine million visitors last year, it stands as a potent symbol of France’s cultural influence and a key soft-power tool for the nation. Now, this esteemed institution finds itself embroiled in controversy following such a flagrant attack.
Following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, France’s government spokeswoman, Maud Bregeon, stated, “I am not underestimating what our fellow citizens must have felt.” She urged calm, adding, “let’s keep our cool, let the investigation run its course, and then we can all draw our own conclusions.”