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Senate Probe Finds Cascade of Security Failures Let Louvre Jewel Thieves Slip Away by 30 Seconds

Investigators called for urgent security upgrades, including revised guard training.

Overview

  • Only one of two cameras at the entry point worked and video reached the control post with delays, leaving guards without real-time monitoring.
  • Police were first sent to the wrong location due to imprecise instructions, and investigators said an alert raised 30 seconds earlier likely would have led to an interception.
  • The French window on the Galerie d’Apollon was poorly secured and its glass had very low resistance, and a balcony flagged in past audits remained unreinforced.
  • Audits from 2017 and 2019 identifying vulnerabilities were not transmitted to the current leadership after the 2021 management change, reflecting weak internal information transfer.
  • Four suspects have been arrested but the eight Crown jewels, estimated at about $102 million, are still missing, as officials weigh changes to guard training, including possible use of ex‑military, and staff plan a strike starting December 15.