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louvresecurity of System proved seriously inadequate during an audacious daylight loot Of Francecrown of jewelryIts director revealed WednesdayAmid growing public anger over vital security failures,
Thieves committed robbery in world famous Paris archive On Sunday, a crane was used to break an upper floor window before an estimated 88 million euros ($102 million) worth of jewelry was looted. The thieves then fled the scene on motorbikes, causing shockwaves around the world and widespread introspection in France, where many view the incident as a national disgrace.
Louvre director Laurence des Cars informed senators that he had tendered his resignation following the incident. However, Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who herself is facing intense investigation and charges in the wake of the robbery, reportedly rejected the offer.
Security efforts ‘defeated’
“Despite our efforts, despite our hard work every day, we lost,” Des Cars told the Senate committee.
Many in France and around the world are amazed at how four hooded assailants were able to drive up to the world’s most visited museum, break a second-floor window and escape with a handsome loot without being caught. Ministers have acknowledged there have been serious security lapses.
“We could not detect the arrival of the thieves quickly enough,” Des Carr said, attributing this to the fact that there were not enough cameras outside to monitor the perimeter of the Louvre.
External security cameras do not give complete coverage of the museum’s exterior, he said, adding that the window through which the thieves entered was not monitored by CCTV.
Des Cars said he had repeatedly warned that the centuries-old building was in a very poor state of safety. “The warnings I was giving came horrifyingly true last Sunday.”
He promised to set up a no-parking perimeter in the areas around the Louvre, upgrade the CCTV network and ask the Interior Ministry to set up a police station inside the museum.
Four other French museums were recently robbed
The robbery, which occurred Sunday morning after the Louvre opened to visitors, has prompted assessments of security at museums across the country. Paris is home to some of the world’s most famous cultural institutions, including museums such as the Orsay, the Pompidou and the Quai Branly that help sustain growing tourism.
According to media reports, at least four French museums have been looted in the past two months.
On Tuesday, prosecutors said they had charged a Chinese-born woman in the theft of six gold nuggets worth about 1.5 million euros ($1.75 million) from the Natural History Museum in Paris last month. They said he was arrested while trying to dispose of some molten gold in Barcelona.