The Louvre's director admitted a 'terrible failure' and offered to resign after a daylight heist stole eight crown jewels worth over $100 million, citing security camera shortages and other weaknesses.
Louvre director Laurence des Cars acknowledged a 'terrible failure' following a daylight crown jewel heist over the weekend, revealing she offered her resignation, which was refused. The museum reopened after the theft of eight pieces from France's Crown Jewels, valued at over $100 million, an incident she compared to the burning of Notre Dame. Des Cars testified to the French Senate about the museum's 'weaknesses,' including a shortage of security cameras outside the monument, although alarms functioned correctly. She emphasized that the thieves' arrival was not detected soon enough and proposed solutions like barriers to prevent vehicle parking near the museum and establishing a police station inside the facility. The heist has intensified scrutiny on President Emmanuel Macron, Culture Minister Rachida Dati, and des Cars, especially as it follows employee warnings about chronic understaffing and insufficient security resources.
