Camilla Jessen
Weak password and underfunded security blamed after daring museum robbery; missing jewels still unrecovered.
The Louvre Museum is under fire after a staff member revealed that its security system password at the time of a $100 million jewel heist was simply “Louvre.”
On October 18, four thieves broke into the museum through a second-floor window in the famed Galerie d’Apollon.
Using power tools, they pulled off a seven-minute heist, bypassing outdated surveillance systems and stealing historic crown jewels — including emerald tiaras, sapphire necklaces, and diamond brooches.
Now, sources have told ABC News and Libération that the museum’s cybersecurity was shockingly lax, with France’s National Cybersecurity Agency having previously flagged the password in a 2014 audit.
Security failures drew backlash
“There was essentially no functional deterrent at that entry point,” an internal source told Libération. The only camera monitoring the area reportedly did not face the breached window.
Louvre president Laurence des Cars testified before the French Senate that the museum’s perimeter defenses were “weak due to underinvestment.” He said he was “appalled” by the state of security upon taking the role in 2021.
France’s Minister of Justice, Gérald Darmanin, criticized the museum’s failure to protect its priceless collection: “It’s giving a deplorable image of France. The French feel like they have been robbed.”
As of November 5, seven suspects have been arrested, two of whom partially confessed. Despite this, the stolen jewels remain missing, except for one damaged tiara found outside the museum.
If convicted, the suspects face up to 15 years in prison.
This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, who may have used AI in the preparation
