URGENT UPDATE: The Louvre Museum in Paris is set to enhance its security dramatically following a shocking crown jewels heist that occurred on October 19, 2023, where thieves stole treasures valued at €88 million ($102 million). Louvre director Laurence des Cars announced on Wednesday that the museum will install 100 new surveillance cameras by the end of next year, alongside advanced anti-intrusion systems beginning installation within two weeks.
Des Cars emphasized the urgency of these measures, stating, “After the shock, after the emotion, after the assessment, it’s time for action.” The new surveillance equipment is intended to ensure “complete protection of the museum’s surroundings,” she informed the Committee of Cultural Affairs of the National Assembly.
The brazen heist, which took less than 8 minutes, involved robbers breaking through a window into the Apollo Gallery using a freight lift. They utilized disc cutters designed for concrete to breach display cases, shocking security experts. “It’s a method that had not been imagined at all,” des Cars said, referring to the display cases replaced in 2019 that were designed to counter internal attacks.
In light of this incident, the Louvre is implementing over 20 emergency measures, which include creating a new security coordinator role, already advertised this month. Video footage from the museum indicated that the display cases “held up remarkably well” during the robbery, highlighting the challenges faced by the thieves.
The security enhancements are part of the ambitious “Louvre New Renaissance” initiative, aimed at modernizing the museum’s infrastructure with an estimated budget of up to €800 million ($933 million). This decade-long project aspires to reduce overcrowding and provide the Mona Lisa with her own dedicated gallery by 2031. In recent years, des Cars has limited daily visitors to 30,000 to manage the influx of tourists effectively.
“This year, more than 8 million people have already visited the Louvre,” she noted, pointing out that the iconic glass pyramid, unveiled in 1989, was only designed to accommodate about 4 million visitors annually. Des Cars stated, “The extensive modernization that the Louvre underwent in the 1980s is now technically obsolete,” indicating the urgent need for upgrades.
As part of precautionary measures, the Louvre announced on Monday that it would temporarily shut down several staff offices and one public gallery due to structural concerns. With security and operational changes underway, the world’s most visited museum is taking decisive steps to ensure the safety of its priceless artifacts and the millions of visitors it attracts each year.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as the Louvre works to enhance security and protect its invaluable collection.
