French authorities came under intense fire after it emerged that the Louvre’s video surveillance system was protected by a shockingly simple password- “Louvre”- a lapse that investigators said made an already
stunning $102 million jewel heist far easier for thieves.
The revelation, confirmed to ABC News by a museum employee, deepened outrage over security failures that enabled an Ocean’s 11-style robbery in broad daylight on October 19. The burglars slipped into the Apollo Gallery and escaped with eight historic pieces, including Napoleon’s emerald-and-diamond necklace for Empress Marie Louise and Empress Eugénie’s 19th-century crown- all in under seven minutes.
The breach forced the closure of the world’s most-visited museum and triggered a blistering inquiry into how thieves infiltrated one of the globe’s most heavily guarded cultural institutions.
Louvre Director Admits Alarming Lapses
During testimony last month, Louvre director Laurence des Cars admitted to major lapses, from insufficient exterior cameras to blind spots that left the very window used by the thieves unmonitored.
“Despite our efforts, we were defeated,” she said, adding that she had long warned of the museum’s deteriorating security infrastructure.
She said, “The warnings I had been sounding came horribly true.”
Arrests Made, Mastermind Still At Large
Police arrested two suspects a week after the heist: a 34-year-old Algerian detained while trying to board a flight home and a 39-year-old man already under judicial supervision for aggravated theft. Both live in Aubervilliers and have “partially admitted” involvement, according to Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau. Two more suspects- a 37-year-old man and 38-year-old woman- were later charged.
Security Overhaul Promised
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said one key suspect remains on the run and is believed to be the mastermind. As investigators untangle the security breakdowns, the museum has pledged sweeping reforms: no-parking zones around the museum, a modernized CCTV network and a request for a dedicated police station inside the Louvre.
