The Louvre’s security measures were described as “very inadequate,” with the sole camera in the vicinity positioned improperly, failing to capture any of the recent break-in, stated museum director Laurence de Cal during a session with the French Senate on Wednesday.
“Despite our efforts and our work, we have been defeated,” De Cal shared, addressing the Senate about the unusual theft of historic jewels from national collections that occurred last week.
De Cal elaborated on the condition of the CCTV systems, mentioning that he noticed “an alarming security situation at the museum” upon his appointment in 2021 and began a modernization effort. However, it seems that the time lag between initiating this process and actual upgrades has been extensive; work on improvements isn’t set to start until next year and won’t wrap up until 2033.
Since De Cal took over, 134 new digital surveillance cameras have been installed to monitor areas near exhibits, replacing older analog cameras within the museum.
However, as acknowledged by the Secretary, the significant security issue lay outside the building, which was largely unmonitored. Des Cars admitted that security in this area was “very inadequate,” noting that the only camera near the scene of the robbery did not even cover the balcony the thieves accessed to enter the museum.
Surprisingly, the parking of the stolen truck and the use of an attached basket to elevate the thieves to an upper window went completely unmonitored by museum security, as the one available “aging” camera was aimed in the wrong direction. Interestingly, the alarm triggered when the thieves attempted to break the glass, suggesting that the existing security system did function correctly, at least in some regard.
This week also saw a somewhat convoluted situation regarding the surveillance cameras. President Emmanuel Macron’s culture minister, Rashida Dati, went back and forth on De Cal’s offer to resign ensuing the ordeal, placing some blame on the left-leaning city government for not allowing more security cameras in public areas.
Looking ahead, the Secretary reassured the Senate that new cameras would be introduced, though she admitted, “we are still, of course, far from the goal.”
De Cal proposed some short-term security enhancements, including establishing a small police presence within the museum and ensuring safety in the immediate area surrounding the Louvre. Most people visiting Western cities are likely familiar with the anti-terrorism blocks, the “distancing device” being employed to prevent larger vehicles from entering the Louvre.
On a brighter note, there was an update on one item recovered from the theft: Empress Eugenie’s crown, which the robbers left behind during their escape.
Although the historic crown was “substantially damaged” from being yanked from its display case, museum experts believe it can be restored. “The art department retrieved this work yesterday. It still needs some attention, but delicate restoration is possible. It’s something that can be salvaged from this disaster,” the curator indicated.
However, the fate of the other stolen items remains uncertain. French police have reported that very few clues have emerged, and art experts fear these distinctive pieces might be dismantled for their raw materials instead of being sold intact. Sen. Laurent Lafont, who sat next to De Cal during the session, expressed concern about the potential for the unique items to be broken down and separately sold. “Of course, it will be difficult to resell this loot as is,” he noted, adding, “There’s a risk that the stones and precious metals will be re-cut and sold individually, leading to a definitive catastrophe for our heritage. The sheer seriousness of this robbery and the apparent ease with which it was carried out is extremely worrying and raises questions on our part.”
