Louvre announces security overhaul after dramatic daytime jewel heist
The Louvre Museum is implementing more than 20 emergency security measures following a brazen October theft of royal jewels. Director Laurence des Cars announced the plan to French lawmakers, which includes installing 100 perimeter cameras by 2026 and establishing an on-site police station. The overhaul comes amid criticism that the museum prioritized acquisitions over security infrastructure.
Paris' Louvre Museum is undertaking a major security upgrade with over twenty emergency measures following a sophisticated daytime heist that exposed vulnerabilities at the world's most visited museum. Director Laurence des Cars announced the comprehensive plan to France's National Assembly, responding to the October theft that saw thieves escape with priceless royal jewels from one of the museum's most secure galleries.
Immediate security enhancements
The security overhaul includes creating a dedicated security-coordination position, installing protective barriers around sensitive buildings, and accelerating the installation of 100 new perimeter cameras with completion scheduled for late 2026. Des Cars also revealed that cooperation with Paris police will be significantly strengthened through the establishment of a police station within the Louvre's grounds, providing constant law enforcement presence at the historic site.
Addressing criticism and defending protocols
The director used her parliamentary testimony to counter what she called "a flood of attacks and criticisms aimed at spreading false information." She specifically defended the museum's security systems, confirming that anti-intrusion alarms functioned properly during the October incident and that security staff followed established protocols. Des Cars also pushed back against allegations that the institution had favored expensive art acquisitions over essential safety investments.
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The October heist and its aftermath
The security review follows the dramatic October 19 theft where perpetrators used a stolen truck and furniture lift to access the first-floor Apollo Gallery, making off with historic jewels including a diamond and emerald necklace Napoleon Bonaparte gave to his second wife and a diadem belonging to Empress Eugenie. Four suspects have been charged in connection with the robbery, which prompted France's audit office to criticize the museum for prioritizing "visible and attractive initiatives" over essential security maintenance in a November report.
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