Overview
- France’s Court of Auditors called the October theft a “deafening wake-up call” and criticized the slow pace of security upgrades.
- Only 39% of the museum’s rooms had CCTV coverage in 2024, and the Louvre does not expect its surveillance overhaul to be completed until 2032.
- A 2014 ANSSI audit reported the video-surveillance password was “LOUVRE,” another system used “THALES,” and some workstations still ran Windows 2000.
- Culture Minister Rachida Dati announced an emergency €80 million investment in surveillance equipment as auditors urged prioritizing safety over marquee projects.
- Four suspects are in custody, the eight imperial jewels worth about €88 million remain missing, and investigators say the gang struck in under seven minutes using a stolen truck with an extendable ladder.