The director of the Louvre Museum announced comprehensive security upgrades on Wednesday, including the installation of approximately 100 new surveillance cameras and advanced anti-intrusion systems, following last month's shocking theft of crown jewels valued at 88 million euros ($102 million). Laurence des Cars, the museum's director, revealed that the new camera network will be operational by the end of next year, while anti-intrusion systems will begin installation within two weeks.
The security enhancements are part of more than 20 "emergency measures" being implemented at the world's most visited museum. Des Cars described the anti-intrusion systems as equipment designed to prevent intruders from approaching the museum buildings, though she did not provide specific details about the technology. The new surveillance cameras are intended to ensure "complete protection of the museum's surroundings," she explained during her testimony to the Committee of Cultural Affairs of the National Assembly.
"After the shock, after the emotion, after the assessment, it's time for action," des Cars told the committee. Among the emergency measures is the creation of a new "security coordinator" position at the museum, with the job posting having been published this month. The announcement comes as investigators continue searching for the stolen treasures, with at least five people arrested in connection with the heist, though none of the jewels have been recovered.
The October 19 robbery was executed with remarkable speed and precision, taking the thieves less than eight minutes to break through a window into the Apollo Gallery using a freight elevator. Des Cars revealed new details about the security breach, explaining that the robbers used disc cutters designed for concrete to break through the display cases. "It's a method that had not been imagined at all" when the display cases in the Apollo Gallery were replaced in 2019, she said.
The display cases had been primarily designed to counter attacks from inside the museum using weapons, rather than the industrial cutting tools employed by the thieves. However, des Cars noted that museum camera footage showed the cases "held up remarkably well and did not break apart," adding that "videos show how difficult it was for the thieves" to complete their task.
Master jeweler and Parisian gem appraiser Stephen Portier told reporters that the thieves will face significant challenges in attempting to sell their stolen goods. "The whole world knows about this robbery. Dealers will have pictures of every single piece up in their offices," he explained. "So if they think they're being offered diamonds from the Louvre, they will ask some hard questions and contact the police."
The security improvements are integrated into the Louvre's ambitious decade-long "Louvre New Renaissance" modernization plan, launched earlier this year with an estimated cost of up to 800 million euros ($933 million). This comprehensive renovation aims to modernize the museum's infrastructure, reduce overcrowding issues, and provide the Mona Lisa with a dedicated gallery by 2031.
Des Cars emphasized that the museum is struggling under the weight of mass tourism, having restricted daily visitor numbers to 30,000 in recent years. She pointed out that the famous glass pyramid, inaugurated in 1989, was originally designed to accommodate approximately 4 million visitors annually. However, this year alone, more than 8 million people have visited the Louvre, far exceeding its intended capacity.
"The extensive modernization that the Louvre underwent in the 1980s is now technically obsolete, with equipment that has been overperforming for 40 years," des Cars explained. The aging infrastructure challenges were further highlighted on Monday when the Louvre announced the temporary closure of some employee offices and one public gallery due to structural fragility concerns.
The crown jewels heist has exposed critical vulnerabilities in one of the world's most prestigious cultural institutions, prompting urgent action to protect priceless artifacts. The comprehensive security overhaul represents the most significant upgrade to the museum's protective systems in decades, as administrators work to balance public access with the preservation of irreplaceable cultural treasures.
