The Louvre Museum in Paris is set to install around 100 new surveillance cameras and introduce anti-intrusion systems following the audacious theft of crown jewels in October, one of the most significant art heists in recent French history.
Museum director Laurence des Cars announced the measures during a hearing before the National Assembly’s Committee of Cultural Affairs on 19th November. She revealed that the new surveillance network will be in place by the end of 2026, while the anti-intrusion equipment will begin installation within the next two weeks. These systems are designed to protect the museum’s perimeter and prevent unauthorised access to the buildings.
The 19th October robbery saw thieves break into the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery using a freight lift to gain entry through a window. Armed with disc cutters typically used on concrete, they forced open display cases and stole eight pieces from the French crown jewellery collection. The operation lasted less than eight minutes. Des Cars explained that the display cases, redesigned in 2019, had been reinforced to resist internal attacks involving weapons, not external break-ins using construction tools.
Footage from the museum’s existing cameras reportedly shows the cases withstanding the assault longer than expected. However, the breach exposed serious gaps in the museum’s perimeter defences. In response, the Louvre will also appoint a dedicated security coordinator as part of more than 20 emergency actions.
The improvements form a key part of the €800 million ‘Louvre New Renaissance’ plan, which includes infrastructure modernisation and the creation of a dedicated Mona Lisa gallery by 2031. Des Cars also reiterated concerns about overcrowding, reminding the committee that the museum’s pyramid was originally designed to host four million visitors annually, while numbers now regularly exceed eight million.
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Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti