The director of the Louvre Museum, Laurence des Cars, has publicly acknowledged that inadequate security measures allowed a group of thieves to steal €88 million (£76 million) worth of French crown jewels during a daring heist last Sunday.
Speaking before French senators, des Cars revealed that the museum’s perimeter surveillance was “ageing” and “insufficient,” admitting that the only exterior camera monitoring the section of wall where the thieves gained access was pointed away from the critical area the first-floor balcony leading to the Gallery of Apollo, home to the stolen jewels.
“We failed these jewels,” des Cars stated, emphasizing that even the world’s most renowned museum is not immune to “brutal criminals.”
While government officials have denied any systemic security failings, des Cars candidly told lawmakers that the Louvre had been “defeated.” Her testimony offered rare insight into the museum’s vulnerabilities and the growing challenge of protecting historic institutions with outdated infrastructure.
Ageing Systems and Budget Constraints
Des Cars explained that much of the Louvre’s security technology is outdated, with some areas unable to support modern surveillance equipment. Despite welcoming 8.7 million visitors last year, the museum has faced slow investment in security upgrades due to budget constraints.
Upon her appointment as director in 2021, des Cars was reportedly warned about the “obsolete” systems at the Louvre especially compared with the Musée d’Orsay, where she previously served as director. She has since advocated for doubling the number of CCTV cameras throughout the museum.
Senators expressed astonishment upon learning that only one camera covered the river-facing external wall and that it was oriented in the wrong direction. As a result, the lorry carrying the thieves and their mechanical ladder went undetected as they approached the Gallery of Apollo.
“There is a weakness at the Louvre, and I acknowledge it completely,” des Cars admitted.
She praised museum staff for their swift response in evacuating the building once the intrusion was detected but conceded that “the arrival of the thieves was not spotted early enough.”
The Heist and Its Aftermath
The theft, which took less than 10 minutes, saw four suspects escape with eight pieces of royal jewellery, including a diamond and emerald necklace once gifted by Emperor Napoleon to his wife. A diamond-studded crown belonging to Empress Eugénie was dropped during the escape and recovered though damaged. Des Cars confirmed that restoration experts believe the crown can be delicately repaired.
Investigators suspect the heist was commissioned by an organized criminal network. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expressed confidence that the culprits would be captured soon.
Looking Ahead
Des Cars disclosed that cuts to security staff and deteriorating infrastructure have hindered the museum’s ability to modernize. She hopes that comprehensive security upgrades will begin in early 2026, though the historic building’s age presents significant technical challenges.
Following the heist, des Cars offered her resignation to France’s Ministry of Culture, which was declined. She defended her leadership, saying she had long warned of the Louvre’s vulnerabilities.
“I am wounded as director that the warnings I raised have come to pass,” she told senators. “We’ve had a terrible failure at the Louvre and I have taken responsibility for it.”
Despite this setback, des Cars reaffirmed her commitment to restoring public confidence in the security of the world’s most visited museum home to masterpieces such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
