Louvre heist losses put at almost 90m as museum's head prepares to face MPs

"A gang of four thieves forced their way into theLouvre's Apollo gallery shortly after the museum opened on Sunday morning, using a ladder from a furniture hoist on the street below and making off with eight pieces of Napoleonic jewellery. It is unclear whether the museum, which shut in the immediate aftermath of the robbery and remained closed on Monday and Tuesday, will reopen on Wednesday."

"Speaking to the national assembly on Tuesday, the culture minister, Rachida Dati, defended the museumand dismissed speculation that the security cameras had not worked properly. The Louvre museum's security apparatus did not fail, that is a fact, she said. The Louvre museum's security apparatus worked. She added, however, that a portion of the budget for the Louvre's renovation would now be dedicated to updating its security system, including new CCTV cameras."

Police estimate the financial loss from the heist at about €88m. Four thieves forced entry into the Louvre's Apollo gallery shortly after opening, using a ladder from a street-level furniture hoist and escaping with eight pieces of Napoleonic jewellery in a seven-minute raid. The museum closed immediately and remained shut Monday and Tuesday; reopening Wednesday was uncertain. Laurence des Cars will answer parliament's culture committee questions about window breach speed, display case quality and the absence of a rapid-response unit. Culture minister Rachida Dati defended the museum's security and said renovation funds will upgrade CCTV and other systems. The museum disputed claims of outdated security.

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