The French government's prized museum, the Louvre, was left vulnerable to theft due in part to its antiquated security measures. According to director Laurence des Cars, a weak and "aging" CCTV system around the perimeter of the museum failed to spot thieves who made off with €88m worth of priceless jewels last Sunday. The only camera that captured any footage - a single unit pointing away from the first-floor balcony where the heist took place - was not positioned in a way that would have shown the thieves breaking in.
The heist, which was carried out by four individuals over the course of under 10 minutes, highlights the shortcomings of the Louvre's security. Des Cars, who became director of the museum in 2021 and had previously warned about the antiquated nature of its security equipment, admitted that "we failed these jewels." The lack of CCTV coverage meant that not even the thieves' vehicle, which was used to transport the stolen goods, was visible on camera.
Des Cars, who tendered her resignation after the heist but was refused by the culture ministry, described the museum's security as "very unsatisfactory" both inside and outside. She acknowledged that the budget constraints faced by big institutions like the Louvre were a challenge to securing adequate protection, but emphasized the need for improvement.
The damage caused by the thieves has left some of the stolen jewels irreparably damaged, including a 19th-Century diamond-studded crown belonging to Empress Eugenie. However, initial assessments suggest that restoration is possible.
Des Cars' comments have sparked debate about how the museum's security failed so catastrophically. Some of her critics had accused her of prioritizing her own comfort over protecting the Louvre and its collections - she denied these claims.
The heist, which was carried out by four individuals over the course of under 10 minutes, highlights the shortcomings of the Louvre's security. Des Cars, who became director of the museum in 2021 and had previously warned about the antiquated nature of its security equipment, admitted that "we failed these jewels." The lack of CCTV coverage meant that not even the thieves' vehicle, which was used to transport the stolen goods, was visible on camera.
Des Cars, who tendered her resignation after the heist but was refused by the culture ministry, described the museum's security as "very unsatisfactory" both inside and outside. She acknowledged that the budget constraints faced by big institutions like the Louvre were a challenge to securing adequate protection, but emphasized the need for improvement.
The damage caused by the thieves has left some of the stolen jewels irreparably damaged, including a 19th-Century diamond-studded crown belonging to Empress Eugenie. However, initial assessments suggest that restoration is possible.
Des Cars' comments have sparked debate about how the museum's security failed so catastrophically. Some of her critics had accused her of prioritizing her own comfort over protecting the Louvre and its collections - she denied these claims.
! €88m worth of priceless jewels gone in under 10 minutes? That's insane! I mean, I know our CCTV systems are outdated and all, but €88m is a huge chunk of change 
. According to the Louvre's director, they've had these security issues for years 
.
. And did you know that the average cost of a security breach at a museum is around $1 million? That's not exactly reassuring 
.
. The Louvre's security is like something out of a bad movie from the 80s 
. Four guys break into the museum and make off with millions? It's like they had a key 
or something. And now some of the stolen jewels are damaged beyond repair? That's just heartbreaking 
. I don't know what kind of budget constraints the Louvre is working under, but you'd think that security would be a top priority 
. Anyway, I hope they're able to get the stolen goods back and restore them to their former glory 
.
this is just devastating... a £88m heist at the Louvre? 
that's like, crazy! 
i guess des cars was right to say that the security was "very unsatisfactory" both inside and outside... 
but still, £88m worth of priceless jewels gone forever is just heartbreaking 
and yeah, budget constraints can be a challenge, but that's no excuse for not having better systems in place... 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to steal all those priceless jewels? 
But seriously, it's crazy that the security measures failed so miserably. I've always been a fan of tech solutions for museums like this - have you seen the new augmented reality exhibits they're doing in other museums? It would be amazing to see something like that at the Louvre too. 
Maybe it's time for them to upgrade their CCTV system and invest in some more modern security measures... I mean, €88m worth of jewels is a lot to risk! 
It's crazy that they have an "aging" CCTV system around the perimeter of the Louvre... like, how does that even happen in 2025? 
shouldn't security be a priority? I mean, I get it, budget constraints are real, but €88m worth of jewels is a lot of money to splurge on outdated tech. 
... that's wild! It's like they were trying to cover their tracks or something 
. I'm all for debate about security measures, but Des Cars seems really genuine about wanting improvement. Maybe we can learn from this and get museums in general more secure? 
and des cars said they hadnt even gotten new CCTV cameras since 2018? thats ages ago! 
and now she had to resign 
it's not just the lack of CCTV coverage thats the problem, it's like they didnt even think it thru when it came to security 
. I get that budgets can be tight for museums, but come on! You can't skimp on security and expect everything to be alright 
. Those stolen jewels deserve it 
.
! The Louvre's security is so outdated it's like they're asking to get hacked 
. It's like, hello future proof your security! 
.
anyone else think it's crazy they only had one working cam and it wasn't even facing the right direction?