Louvre Director Addresses Security Lapses Following $102 Million Jewel Heist

Thieves executed a daring heist at Paris's Louvre Museum, stealing historic jewels valued at approximately $102 million. The robbery occurred in the Apollo Gallery, where the perpetrators accessed the museum via a second-floor balcony not covered by security cameras. Museum Director Laurence des Cars informed a French Senate committee that the existing camera system failed to monitor this area. She described the museum's technical infrastructure as "absolutely obsolete, even absent," and revealed that she had offered her resignation to Culture Minister Rachida Dati, which was declined. Des Cars emphasized the need for modernizing the museum's security systems to address new threats. The Louvre reopened three days after the heist, with visitors returning as investigations continue. Authorities are working to recover the stolen artifacts and prevent future incidents.