Louvre Director Admits Security Failures After €88m Jewel Heist

The director of the Louvre Museum has admitted that critical security flaws allowed a gang of thieves to steal €88 million (£76 million) worth of crown jewels from the Paris landmark. Laurence des Cars told French senators that outdated surveillance systems and poor camera placement prevented staff from detecting the break-in before it was too late.

Aging CCTV Left Louvre’s Perimeter Exposed

Speaking publicly for the first time since Sunday’s heist, des Cars described how the museum’s perimeter cameras failed to capture the thieves’ entry point.

“The only camera on the wall where they broke in was facing the wrong way,” she said. “We failed these jewels.”

The gang accessed the Gallery of Apollo, where France’s royal jewellery collection was displayed, by climbing to a first-floor balcony using a mechanical ladder. The area was entirely unmonitored.

Des Cars acknowledged that the Louvre’s security infrastructure was “very unsatisfactory,” describing the external CCTV as “aging” and “obsolete.” She said that several interior areas could not support modern surveillance upgrades.

Louvre ‘Defeated’ Despite Guards’ Response

Des Cars said museum guards acted quickly once the intrusion was detected, successfully evacuating visitors and sealing off the gallery. However, the initial failure to spot the gang’s arrival proved decisive.

“We did not detect the thieves early enough,” she said. “There is a weakness at the Louvre, and I acknowledge it completely.”

The director, who took charge of the museum in 2021, told senators she had warned of the equipment’s obsolescence when she arrived, comparing it unfavourably to the modern systems at the Musée d’Orsay, where she previously worked.

Despite ministerial denials of security failings, des Cars described the incident as “a defeat” for the museum and for France’s cultural heritage.

Senators Express Shock Over Single Camera Failure

Lawmakers reacted with disbelief upon learning that only one camera covered the external wall where the thieves gained entry — and that it was pointed away from the balcony leading to the gallery.

That failure allowed the gang’s lorry, carrying a ladder and tools, to go completely unnoticed as it parked beside the building.

“The Louvre’s perimeter protection is known to be weak,” des Cars said. “The incident exposed just how vulnerable we were.”

A 10-Minute Heist That Shamed Paris

The theft unfolded in less than 10 minutes early on Sunday morning. The gang of four broke through a window to reach the Gallery of Apollo, where they seized eight priceless pieces, including a diamond and emerald necklace once given by Emperor Napoleon to his wife.

As they fled, the thieves dropped a 19th-century diamond crown belonging to Empress Eugénie, damaging it in the fall. “Initial assessments suggest that a delicate restoration is possible,” des Cars told senators.

The museum reopened on Wednesday, though the gallery remained closed for investigation.

Chronic Underfunding and Staff Cuts Blamed

Des Cars cited years of underinvestment and declining staff numbers as key reasons for the security breach. The Louvre, which welcomed 8.7 million visitors last year, has struggled to modernize its infrastructure despite its global profile.

“Some systems are simply too old to handle new technologies,” she said, adding that security and surveillance teams had been reduced over the past decade.

She revealed plans to double the number of cameras and said that work to overhaul security could begin in early 2026. However, she warned that upgrades would be complex given the building’s age and historical architecture.

Director’s Resignation Rejected After Heist

Des Cars told senators she had offered to resign following the theft but that the culture ministry refused to accept it.

She described herself as “wounded” by accusations in the media that she cared more about her own comfort than museum security.

“I have been raising concerns about the state of the Louvre for some time,” she said. “We’ve had a terrible failure at the Louvre. I’ve taken responsibility for it.”

The director became visibly emotional as she defended her leadership, saying she had acted as a “whistle-blower” about the risks facing the museum.

Investigation Under Way to Track Thieves

French prosecutors believe the heist was carried out on behalf of an organized criminal network. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told Europe1 radio that he had “every confidence” in investigators’ ability to recover the jewels and identify those responsible.

A nationwide manhunt remains active as police analyze security footage from nearby streets and transport hubs.

The incident, which has been described by French media as “the most shocking theft in the museum’s history,” has intensified pressure on cultural institutions to modernize their security systems amid rising threats to Europe’s national treasures.

Source: BBC – No camera covered Louvre wall where jewel thieves broke in, director says