Louvre director acknowledges terrible failure' after 88m jewel heist

"The director of the Louvre museum in Paris has acknowledged a terrible failure days after thieves took seven minutes to break in via a window and steal jewels worth 88m, admitting there was highly insufficient security camera coverage of the outside walls of the vast building. Laurence des Cars was grilled by senators about the spectacular heist in which four men used a truck with extendable ladder and furniture hoist to access a balcony,"

"She said all alarms had functioned during the burglary, but admitted that security cameras did not adequately cover the thieves' point of entry. The only camera installed is directed westward and therefore did not cover the balcony involved in the break-in, she said. There are some perimeter cameras, but they are ageing, she conceded, and surveillance of the museum's outside walls is highly insufficient."

Security at the Louvre failed when four thieves used a truck with an extendable ladder and a furniture hoist to access a balcony, cut a window and steal jewels worth €88 million during opening hours. Alarms functioned but external surveillance was inadequate, with the only camera directed westward and perimeter cameras ageing, leaving the balcony entry unmonitored. The robbers parked on a pavement, placed bollards to simulate maintenance, and operated for about seven minutes before escaping. Senators criticised the breach and questioned how the vehicle could remain parked illegally on a busy main road near the Seine for two hours.

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