"Presenting the report, which was completed before the dramatic heist at the world's most-visited museum, Pierre Moscovici said the Louvre had sufficient funds for the improvements and must now implement them without fail. The court of auditors' report said investments in maintenance and security were indispensable for the long-term functioning of the institution, but that the Louvre had consistently prioritised visible and attractive projects instead."
"Four suspects are in custody over the robbery on 19 October, including three who are thought to have been members of the four-man gang who used a stolen truck with an extendable ladder and freight lift to reach the first-floor window of the museum's Apollo gallery."
"They fled with eight items, including an emerald and diamond necklace that Napoleon I gave to his second wife, Marie Louise, and a diadem set with 212 pearls and nearly 2,000 diamonds that once belonged to the wife of Napoleon III. None of the jewels have been recovered."
The Louvre had sufficient funds for safety and maintenance improvements but consistently prioritised visible and attractive projects over technical and security upgrades. Decision-making deprioritised maintenance and renovation of buildings and technical facilities related to safety and security. Deployment of security equipment for artwork protection was persistently delayed despite more than 8.7 million visitors last year. A brazen daylight heist on 19 October used a stolen truck with an extendable ladder and freight lift to access an unsecured first-floor window of the Apollo gallery; thieves smashed glass cases and fled on motorbikes within seven minutes. Eight crown-jewel items, including Napoleonic pieces, remain unrecovered and four suspects are in custody. Immediate implementation of delayed security measures and maintenance is required.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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