Editor’s Note
France has launched a security review at the Louvre Museum after the theft of historic crown jewels, one of the most significant blows to the nation’s cultural heritage. The museum remained closed for a second day, with last-minute cancellations leaving hundreds of tourists waiting outside.
France is reviewing security at the Louvre Museum following the theft of historic crown jewels, an incident considered one of the biggest blows to the country’s cultural heritage.
For the second consecutive day, the Louvre remained closed to the public after the theft of French crown jewels. The decision to suspend visits was made at the last moment, when hundreds of tourists were already queuing at the main entrance under the glass pyramid.
Many visitors expressed frustration over the lack of information. Among them, Chilean Michel Sánchez told EFE that it was
not to have been warned in advance, and criticized the museum authorities’ management.
Interior Minister Laurent Núñez and Culture Minister Rachida Dati met with senior police officials to review security protocols at the Louvre and other cultural venues. The meeting resulted in a directive to the country’s prefects to assess the reinforcement of security measures in museums and heritage institutions.
Dati stated that the current situation is a consequence of
in security matters. She assured that the Ministry of Culture has been conducting audits since 2022, and that the renovation plan announced by President Emmanuel Macron allocates 160 million euros to strengthen surveillance systems.
A report from the French Court of Auditors, whose contents were leaked after the theft, warns that the Louvre’s security budget is insufficient despite an annual operating budget of 323 million euros. According to the document, only 138 cameras were installed in the museum’s galleries over the past five years, covering barely a third of the total.
The auditors also highlighted a lack of technological investment and specialized personnel for heritage protection. Dati acknowledged the limitations and stated that public procurement procedures slow down adjustments compared to the private sector.
The theft was carried out by four individuals who acted quickly and without the use of advanced technology. In just seven minutes, the group stole eight pieces of the French crown jewels and lost a ninth during their escape. They entered through the southern flank of the museum, along the Seine, using a freight elevator installed in the middle of a public street.
The thieves broke a hole in a glass door and smashed the display cases with a cutting disc. Museum staff did not intervene, as protocol prohibits them from confronting criminals, and police arrived only after the suspects were already fleeing on two high-displacement motorcycles.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged that the security system failed. He noted that the criminals managed to install heavy machinery in front of the museum, break into the building, and steal pieces of
, which, he said,
French authorities are now working to identify the responsible group and recover the stolen jewels, while the museum’s closure raises questions about the protection of the world’s most visited cultural heritage site.
With information from EFE