Inside the Louvre heist: new findings highlight questions over museum security
The Louvre Pyramid designed by Chinese-born US architect Ieoh Ming Pei in Paris as the Louvre museum reopens its doors to the public after more than 6 months of closure due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in France, May 19, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS
Authorities are continuing to investigate the October 18 theft at Paris’s Louvre Museum, where thieves stole more than $100 million worth of jewels in a matter of minutes.
As the probe unfolds, a museum employee has told investigators that the museum’s security system password at the time of the robbery was reportedly “Louvre,” according to ABC News, citing French outlet Libération.
The password had also been mentioned in a 2014 audit by France’s National Cybersecurity Agency.
The suspects are believed to have entered through a second-floor window of the Galerie d’Apollon, using power tools to gain access before escaping with several high-value pieces.
Museum President Laurence des Cars told the French Senate that the Louvre’s security system had suffered from years of “underinvestment” and said improvements have since been prioritized.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin called the incident a “failure of security protocols.”
Seven suspects have been arrested so far, though the missing jewels, including tiaras, brooches, and gemstone necklaces, have not yet been recovered.