The director of the Louvre Museum has acknowledged significant security failures that allowed thieves to steal over $100 million worth of jewels, prompting a national outcry.
Laurence des Cars, the director of the Louvre Museum in Paris, is under intense scrutiny following a brazen heist that resulted in the theft of more than $100 million in jewels. In her first public address since the incident, des Cars described the security lapses as a “terrible failure,” stating, “Despite our efforts, despite our hard work on a daily basis, we failed,” as reported by The Guardian.
Des Cars admitted that the museum’s perimeter security was inadequate, revealing that the only camera monitoring the outside of the museum was positioned away from the balcony that led to the gallery housing the stolen treasures. Despite this glaring oversight, she confirmed that all of the museum’s alarms were operational during the burglary.
“We failed these jewels,” des Cars lamented, according to the BBC. She emphasized that no institution is immune to the threat of “brutal thieves — not even the Louvre.”
According to Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau, the thieves executed their plan using a truck-mounted electric furniture lift, which they acquired by masquerading as movers. This strategic deception allowed them to bypass security measures and gain access to the museum. Beccuau noted that selling the stolen jewels for their full value would be challenging if the thieves chose to dismantle or melt the pieces.
The stolen items included eight significant pieces, such as a sapphire diadem, a necklace, and a single earring linked to 19th-century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense. Additionally, the thieves made off with an emerald necklace and earrings associated with Empress Marie-Louise, the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, as well as a reliquary brooch. Among the most notable items taken were Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch, both of which are renowned for their exquisite craftsmanship.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his outrage over the theft, stating in a post on X, “The theft committed at the Louvre is an attack on a heritage that we cherish, for it is our history. We will recover the works, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Everything is being done, everywhere, to achieve this, under the leadership of the Paris prosecutor’s office.”
The heist has sparked a national reckoning, drawing comparisons to the 2019 fire at Notre Dame Cathedral. Beccuau revealed that the investigative team has expanded from 60 to 100 members, highlighting the case’s significance on both national and international levels.
As the investigation unfolds, the Louvre Museum faces mounting pressure to enhance its security measures and restore public confidence in its ability to protect its invaluable collection.
Source: Original article