The director of the Louvre Museum, Laurence des Cars, told French lawmakers on Wednesday that major blind spots in the museum’s security system allowed thieves to execute Sunday’s €88 million jewellery heist without detection.
Speaking before a Senate committee, Des Cars acknowledged that the Louvre’s surveillance network failed to spot the intruders in time, describing the theft as a devastating breach of the museum’s defences.
“Despite our efforts, despite our hard work every day, we were defeated,” she said. “The lack of external camera coverage made the museum vulnerable.”
According to Des Cars, the thieves used a construction crane to smash an unmonitored upstairs window, then entered the Galerie d’Apollon, where France’s royal crown jewels were displayed. The group stole several historic pieces before fleeing on motorbikes.
She confirmed that she had previously warned the Ministry of Culture about the urgent need to modernize the Louvre’s aging security infrastructure, which she said was “no longer compatible with current threats.”
“The warnings I had been sounding came horribly true last Sunday,” Des Cars said, adding that she had offered her resignation to Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who refused to accept it.
The Louvre reopened to visitors on Wednesday, three days after the daring theft that shocked France and drew international attention.
Officials have since begun a comprehensive review of the museum’s surveillance network and staffing protocols. Investigators believe the gang exploited precise knowledge of the Louvre’s security blind spots, suggesting possible inside assistance or prior reconnaissance.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called the heist “an attack on our heritage,” vowing that the stolen jewels will be recovered and the perpetrators “brought to justice.”
The Louvre, home to masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, welcomes millions of visitors each year. But as Des Cars’ testimony revealed, even the world’s most famous museum is not immune to the vulnerabilities of outdated security systems.
