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Louvre Museum Ramps Up Security After Daring Crown Jewels Heist
PARIS – In the wake of last month’s audacious crown jewels heist, the Louvre Museum is moving swiftly to implement a sweeping overhaul of its security systems, according to museum director Laurence des Cars. New surveillance cameras and anti-intrusion measures are slated for installation, aiming to fortify the iconic Parisian landmark against future threats.
Des Cars announced Wednesday that approximately 100 new surveillance cameras will be fully operational by the end of next year. Additionally, advanced anti-intrusion systems, designed to prevent unauthorized access to the museum buildings, are expected to begin deployment within the next two weeks. While specific details about these intrusion systems remain under wraps, des Cars emphasized their role in ensuring “complete protection of the museum’s surroundings.”
“After the shock, after the emotion, after the assessment, it’s time for action,” des Cars stated before the Committee of Cultural Affairs of the National Assembly. These measures are part of a broader plan encompassing more than 20 emergency initiatives, including the creation of a dedicated “security coordinator” position, which has already been advertised this month.
The October 19th robbery saw thieves breach security in less than eight minutes, forcing their way into the Apollo Gallery via a window and a freight lift. The culprits made off with an astounding 88 million euros ($102 million) in crown jewels. Des Cars revealed new insights into the security breach, explaining that the power tools used to cut through the display cases were heavy-duty disc cutters, typically employed for concrete.
This method of attack, des Cars noted, “had not been imagined at all” when the Apollo Gallery’s display cases were replaced in 2019. At that time, the cases were primarily designed to withstand attacks from within the museum using conventional weapons. Despite the unusual tools, museum camera footage showed the display cases “held up remarkably well and did not break apart,” indicating the thieves faced significant challenges.
Enhancing security is a cornerstone of the decade-long “Louvre New Renaissance” plan, launched earlier this year. This ambitious project, with an estimated cost of up to 800 million euros ($933 million), aims to modernize the museum’s infrastructure, alleviate overcrowding, and create a dedicated gallery for the Mona Lisa by 2031.
The Louvre, which has seen its visitor numbers soar, has already implemented measures to restrict daily attendance to 30,000 to manage mass tourism. The famed glass pyramid, inaugurated in 1989, was designed to accommodate approximately 4 million visitors annually, a stark contrast to the more than 8 million who have visited the museum this year alone. Des Cars acknowledged that the “extensive modernization that the Louvre underwent in the 1980s is now technically obsolete, with equipment that has been overperforming for 40 years.”
Further highlighting the need for extensive upgrades, the Louvre announced Monday the temporary closure of some employee offices and a public gallery due to structural fragilities.