France’s Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, announced on Friday that anti-ramming devices would be installed around the Louvre Museum before the end of the year.
The decision follows a daring daylight robbery that reignited public debate over the security of one of the world’s most visited museums.
On October 19, four thieves parked a truck equipped with a moving lift beneath one of the Louvre’s windows during opening hours. Using cutting tools, they broke into a first-floor gallery and made away with jewellery valued at around $102 million.
Speaking after reviewing an initial security report, Dati emphasized the urgency of reinforcing protection at the museum. “For more than 20 years, there has been a chronic underestimation of intrusion and theft risks,” she told broadcaster TF1. “We can’t continue like this.”
According to the report, the Louvre’s security system suffered from outdated technology and “completely obsolete” response procedures. Dati revealed that, although the museum’s internal systems functioned during the heist, serious vulnerabilities were identified in the external perimeter.
Laurence des Cars, the Louvre’s director, previously admitted that security cameras did not cover the thieves’ entry point. The only camera in that area faced away from the balcony they used to gain access.
To strengthen the museum’s defences, Dati said “anti-ramming” and “anti-intrusion” measures would be implemented “before the end of the year,” though she did not specify the exact details. Des Cars confirmed that installation of the first protective barriers had already begun.
French authorities have arrested seven suspects linked to the heist, with two charged with theft and criminal conspiracy. However, the stolen treasures remain missing. Among them are an emerald-and-diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon I to his wife, Empress Marie-Louise, and a diadem once owned by Empress Eugenie, adorned with nearly 2,000 diamonds.
What You Should Know
France’s Culture Minister, Rachida Dati, announced new anti-ramming and anti-intrusion measures for the Louvre after a $102 million heist exposed serious security flaws.
The October 19 theft involved four men who used a truck and cutting tools to steal priceless royal jewellery, sparking a nationwide call for tighter museum protection.
