Louvre's Security Lapses Exposed After €88M Jewel Heist

Sat Oct 25 2025 13:45:54 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The Louvre's director reveals security failures as thieves make off with priceless items, including French crown jewels.

In a shocking admission following a heist that cost the Louvre €88 million in stolen crown jewels, Director Laurence des Cars reported significant security failures. With outdated surveillance systems and insufficient monitoring, the museum struggled to intercept the gang that breached its walls. As restoration efforts begin, concerns over the facility's aging infrastructure remain paramount.

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 and denied security failings, but des Cars cut through that and admitted the Louvre had been defeated.

Her words gave an extraordinary insight into the difficulty of securing the world's most visited museum and how bad its security really was.

The CCTV system outside the Louvre was 'very unsatisfactory', she said, and inside, some areas were simply too old to adapt to modern technologies.

Des Cars expressed her intent to double the number of CCTV cameras, after acknowledging the obsolete condition of the equipment compared to her previous workplace, the Musée d'Orsay.

Faced with incredulous senators questioning why there was just one camera facing the river and why it wasn’t aimed correctly, des Cars admitted, There is a weakness at the Louvre and I acknowledge it completely. This oversight allowed the gang's lorry, equipped with a mechanical ladder, to remain undetected as it arrived at the gallery.

The museum re-opened on Wednesday, though the gallery remains closed. It is known for housing priceless works including the Mona Lisa.

The gang of four, who broke in less than 10 minutes, stole eight masterpieces, including a diamond and emerald necklace once given to Napoleon’s wife. They dropped a diamond-studded crown as they fled, which has since been recovered but damaged.

Des Cars has shared that initial assessments suggest a delicate restoration of the damaged crown is possible. Accusations of prioritizing her comfort over security have left her feeling wounded and defensive, especially since she believes her warnings about the Louvre’s vulnerabilities had gone unheeded.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed confidence that the thieves would be caught as the investigation continues, suggesting links to an organized criminal group.