The Louvre has unveiled a €80 million ($92 million) overhaul of its security systems in response to the brazen $102 million jewel theft that stunned Paris last month. The new master plan, announced Friday, introduces sweeping reforms after years of warnings about vulnerabilities to the world’s most visited museum.
The initiative follows public scrutiny of internal audits—some dating back more than a decade—that revealed serious lapses, including outdated software and alarmingly weak passwords, one of which was reportedly “Louvre.” The museum’s president, Laurence des Cars, confirmed the immediate creation of a new security coordinator role reporting directly to her office. The plan also details new security committees and a 20 percent increase in training funds.
The reforms come three weeks after a daring daytime robbery on October 19th. Four masked individuals broke into the museum’s Apollo gallery around 9:30 a.m. Using a service lift to access the floor, the thieves smashed open display cases with angle grinders and fled within seven minutes, escaping on scooters.
This event was carried out while the museum was open to the public. The robbery draws comparisons to the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa, the last time the museum witnessed a crime of this magnitude.
Authorities later revealed the culprits were small-time criminals from Seine-Saint-Denis, a suburb northeast of Paris, rather than international art traffickers. Two men were arrested on October 26th. A 38-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man were charged in early November with theft and criminal conspiracy, though both have denied involvement.
Among the eight stolen items are some of the most storied items in France’s cultural history. These include a tiara and brooch once belonging to Empress Eugénie, an emerald necklace and earrings from Empress Marie Louise, and a sapphire set linked to Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense. Another reliquary brooch was taken. None of the jewels has been recovered, and none of them were insured.
The upgrades, which include digital surveillance overhauls, reinforced case protections, and coordination protocols with French law enforcement, are expected to be implemented over the next 18 months. This comes amid current calls to rehaul the museum’s infrastructure. In recent years, the museum, which welcomed 8.7 million visitors in 2024, has been plagued by overcrowding at the entrances and extreme weather conditions. Earlier this year, President Macron announced €800 million ($834 million) renovations to the museum to create a new exhibition space for the Mona Lisa.
