Louvre Heist Calls Museum Security into Question

On Oct. 19, a group of thieves seized eight irreplaceable pieces of jewelry worth $102 million from the Louvre Museum in under seven minutes. Although authorities have since caught the suspects, several questions remain: how did they do it, and how will this be prevented from recurring in the future?

Arriving shortly after the museum’s opening at 9:30 a.m., four individuals reportedly used the mechanical lift on their vehicle to break into the museum’s Galerie d’Apollon, known for housing several of the Louvre’s most valuable treasures. They then cut through the window with power tools, threatened the guards and pushed through the glass displays, ultimately stealing pieces including a sapphire diadem, an emerald necklace and earrings and a reliquary brooch.

For Sherwood High School senior and dedicated art student Arshiya Ahmed, the loss is more profound than simply the works themselves. “Art and history have always had a close connection, so of course losing these pieces means losing that bit of history,” she said. “But I think that was one of the reasons [they were] stolen, for the fame and challenge.”

Graphic by Cathie Ngassam Ngouzo

The security shortcomings, when closely examined, have shocked the world. Prior to the robbery, auditors urged the Louvre to hasten security upgrades. But, the estimated cost of $95 million did not expedite the work; the pace of the upgrades was slow, according to head of the court auditors Pierre Moscovici.

Moreover, although the museum had installed 134 surveillance cameras over the past three years, the password to their video surveillance system was reportedly “Louvre.”

“The theft of the crown jewels is undoubtedly a deafening alarm bell,” Moscovici said. Many art experts and politicians around the world have made similar statements as the Louvre has faced criticism for spending resources on purchasing art rather than protection. According to a report from the Court of Auditors, managers have repeatedly preferred investing in new artwork and exhibitions instead of simple upkeep and security.

“I hope museums will protect [the artwork],” Ahmed said. “[But] if they wanted to protect the museum better, they would have already.”

So far, the French police have arrested four of the robbery’s suspects. DNA left at the scene of the crime has implicated three of them in forcing their way into the museum.

Two of the suspects had a previous history of theft dating back to as early as 2015. However, the Paris prosecutor’s office has not yet publicized their names and more extensive biographical information.

The jewels, on the other hand, remain missing. Experts note that they may have already been broken apart, making it more difficult to discover their origins. 

Photo depicting the interior of the Louvre courtesy of Creative Commons

This event was one of a string of recent global art robberies, underscoring a flaw in certain museum security procedures. In September, thieves stole porcelain worth over $10 million from the Adrien Dubouché National Museum in France, and, in October, over 1,000 items and historical artifacts from the Oakland Museum in California.

Consultants are now tightening security measures at the Louvre, along with other French museums, in order to prevent similar future incidents, according to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin. The Louvre is reportedly adding additional CCTV cameras, a security coordinator and remote control equipment.

Around the world, those following the investigation see the urgency of these actions. “We go to museums to learn more about art and history, because as humans we are fascinated by what our ancestors and people from decades to centuries ago did,” Ahmed said. “Looking at their art is one of the best ways to understand that, and losing any art chips away at future generations not being able to understand them or even the art we make now.”

Written by Nisha Khatri

Featured photo courtesy of Creative Commons