The Louvre Museum’s director, Laurence des Cars, has been under intense scrutiny for alleged security lapses that led to the theft of more than $100 million in jewels. In her first public statement following the incident, des Cars admitted to a ‘terrible failure’ in the museum’s security measures, stating that despite efforts, the institution failed to protect its priceless collection. The security issues included a lack of perimeter surveillance, with the sole camera monitoring the museum’s exterior facing away from the balcony leading to the gallery where the valuable jewels were stored.
According to reports, the heist occurred when thieves used a truck-mounted electric furniture lift, as revealed by Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor, who explained that the burglars had obtained the lift by posing as a moving company. The stolen items included a sapphire diadem, necklace, and earring linked to 19th-century queens, an emerald necklace and earrings tied to Empress Marie-Louise, and a reliquary brooch. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the theft as an attack on cultural heritage, vowing to recover the stolen items and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The breach has sparked a national debate, with some officials likening the shock to the 2019 Notre Dame cathedral fire. The investigation into the heist has expanded from 60 to 100 investigators, emphasizing the case’s significance. Critics are calling for improved security measures to protect other museums and cultural institutions across the country.