
hieves stole eight artifacts from the Louvre in just seven minutes, shocking the world with the “heist of the century.”
On October 19th, local time, four masked individuals broke into the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, and stole eight pieces of Napoleonic-era jewelry. The entire operation took only a few minutes, and the four perpetrators remain at large. The Louvre remained closed on the 20th. Perhaps you’re curious: how could a world-class museum like the Louvre be robbed? Don’t worry, the details of this “heist of the century” have been compiled to answer your questions.
The most astonishing heist was quite simple.
Many imagine the Louvre heist going something like this:
A highly intelligent criminal gang working together internally and externally
Not only were there various high-tech devices to block surveillance cameras inside the museum, but the thieves were also incredibly skilled
“masters of the trade” who mastered disguises.
On October 22nd, local time, Laurence de Carré, director of the Louvre Museum in France, appeared before the French Senate for questioning regarding the recent theft of artifacts from the Louvre. She stated that the Louvre’s perimeter security was weak and surveillance was severely inadequate, and that a series of corrective measures would be implemented.
In her account of the case, the director stated that the museum’s internal alarms and surveillance were functioning normally at the time of the robbery. Four unarmed security guards were present in the Apollo Gallery, where the incident occurred, and they responded professionally, ensuring no casualties.
The director admitted that the museum failed to detect the robbers’ arrival in advance. Perimeter protection is a “weak link” in the Louvre’s security. The surveillance cameras on the building’s exterior walls have long suffered from aging equipment and are severely insufficient in number, failing to cover all facades, including the Apollo Gallery.
The director stated that in recent years, the museum has focused on potential damage caused by radical climate change activists, such as those throwing paint on paintings. Now, the targets have shifted to valuable artifacts, metals, and gemstones, using methods reminiscent of organized crime. These changes had not been fully considered before.
In response to the aforementioned shortcomings, the director proposed several improvement measures. In the short term, she hopes to immediately strengthen the Louvre’s perimeter security, such as installing barriers to prevent vehicles from parking. Long-term plans include doubling and upgrading the number of surveillance systems within the museum and applying to the French Ministry of the Interior for permission to establish a police station within the museum.
Laurence de Carré stated that she offered her resignation to the French Minister of Culture after the Louvre robbery, but was rejected. (CCTV Global News)