Louvre Museum Robbed by Four-Member Theft Ring on the 19th
Director Admits Security System Shortcomings at Senate Hearing
Calls for Establishment of Police Station Within the Museum
Three days after the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, was disrupted by a four-member theft ring, a current issue questioning session was held at the French Senate. On October 22 (local time), Yonhap News, citing the daily Le Monde, reported that "Laurence Descar, Director of the Louvre Museum, appeared at the Senate's current issue questioning session that afternoon and requested a review of the possibility of establishing a police station within the museum." Director Descar also mentioned "strengthening security in the area surrounding the museum" as a short-term measure and stated, "We are considering installing 'street restriction devices' to prevent vehicles from parking right next to the building."
Laurence Descar Louvre Museum Director appeared at the French Senate for current issue questioning on the afternoon of the 22nd (local time). Photo by AP Yonhap News
On this day, Director Descar stated, "The museum's alarm system functioned properly at the time of the incident," and added, "The four staff members on duty in the Apollo Gallery promptly and accurately followed security protocols, reported to the police, secured the scene, and calmly evacuated visitors." However, she admitted, "We failed to detect the thieves' intrusion in advance," and bowed her head, saying, "I take responsibility for this terrible failure."
Director Descar revealed that she submitted her resignation to the cabinet on the day of the incident, but the Minister of Culture rejected it. She has served as the first female director of the Louvre Museum directly appointed by President Macron since September 2021. According to the daily Le Figaro, President Macron has recently called her several times, saying, "Endure this. The momentum for the museum's renovation must not be lost."
During the current issue questioning, the lack or obsolescence of the museum's security system was also discussed. She confessed, "Currently, only some areas have security cameras installed, and even those are outdated," and "the facilities do not cover all exterior walls of the museum." She further explained, "In the case of the Apollo Gallery, the only camera installed outside faces west, so it did not cover the balcony where the intrusion occurred."
She pointed out, "There is a need to adjust the existing security system to new types of attacks and unexpected methods," and added, "There is a chronic lack of investment in the museum's equipment and infrastructure."
The Louvre Museum labor union is also demanding budget allocation to prevent recurrence of such incidents, rather than the director's resignation. In a joint statement the previous day, the unions said, "This tragic incident reminds us that the protection of national heritage should not rely on a weakened system due to budget cuts and staff shortages." On October 22, President Macron, at a cabinet meeting, called for "accelerating measures to strengthen security at the Louvre Museum."
People are viewing the jewelry exhibited in the Apollo Gallery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, last September. Photo by AP Yonhap News
At 4 a.m. on October 19, a four-member theft ring parked a ladder truck outside the Louvre Museum on the banks of the Seine River, broke into the Apollo Gallery on the second floor, and stole eight royal treasures before fleeing. The thieves have not yet been apprehended, and the Paris Prosecutor's Office estimated the total value of the stolen jewels at approximately 140 billion won. However, as a set of royal jewels was included, some have assessed that "the historical loss is greater than the economic damage." After closing for two consecutive days following the incident, the Louvre Museum reopened on this day after its regular closure on the 21st, marking its first reopening in three days.
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