Thieves Had Precise Knowledge of Museum's Layout and Movements
Sensitive Security Information Leaked... Digital Forensic Evidence Found
Evidence has emerged indicating that an internal security guard at the Louvre Museum in France was involved in the royal jewelry theft case.
The crown of Empress Eug?nie de Montijo, wife of Napoleon III, exhibited in the Apollo Gallery of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
On the 25th (local time), an anonymous investigator told the British daily The Telegraph, "There is digital forensic evidence showing that one of the museum's security guards colluded with the thieves," adding, "Sensitive information about security was passed on, and this is how the thieves learned about the security vulnerabilities." The evidence reportedly includes audio recordings and messages, but the identities of the thieves have not yet been confirmed. Investigators have mobilized a large team and collected more than 150 pieces of evidence, including DNA and fingerprints, and are tracking the identities of the perpetrators based on these findings. Authorities estimate that the analysis results will be available within a few days.
On the morning of the 19th, a group of four thieves broke into the Apollo Gallery, the royal jewelry exhibition hall inside the Louvre Museum, and stole as many as eight pieces of jewelry in just seven minutes before fleeing. The value of these jewels is estimated at approximately 149.9 billion won (about 110 million USD). The thieves used a ladder truck against the exterior wall of the gallery, which was under construction and lacked external surveillance cameras, to access the second floor where the gallery is located. After breaking a window, they entered the building wearing yellow work vests and calmly made their way inside. It has been interpreted that the criminals had a thorough understanding of the museum's circumstances, as the exterior wall was under construction and the theft was carried out during hours when there were almost no visitors or security screening personnel present.
The thieves initially stole nine treasures from the Apollo Gallery of the Louvre Museum. These included an emerald necklace and earrings gifted by Napoleon I to his wife, Empress Marie Louise; the crown, tiara, and brooch worn by Empress Eug?nie, wife of Napoleon III; and an 18th-century sapphire tiara, necklace, and earrings belonging to Queen Marie Amelie and Queen Hortense. Among these, the crown of Empress Eug?nie was dropped by the thieves near the scene and recovered by police, so in the end, a total of eight jewels were taken by the perpetrators.
Laurence des Cars, Director of the Louvre, appeared before the Senate for a current affairs inquiry on the 22nd and admitted, "We failed to detect the thieves' intrusion in advance," adding, "I take responsibility for this terrible failure." However, she emphasized that the museum's internal security system is lacking and outdated, and stressed the need for investment to improve it. Director des Cars also requested that, in addition to strengthening security measures in the area surrounding the museum, a police station be installed inside the museum itself. However, Laurent Nu?ez, Minister of the Interior and former Paris Police Chief, refuted the necessity, stating, "There is already a police station right next to the Louvre," and "Police arrived at the scene within three minutes of the alarm being triggered."
Meanwhile, the Louvre Museum has moved some of its most valuable holdings to an underground vault at the nearby Bank of France. According to French broadcaster RTL, on the morning of the 24th, the Louvre Museum, under the escort of a police special unit, transferred some of its jewelry collection to a vault 26 meters underground, where the central bank stores its gold. It is not yet known whether the relocated artifacts will be exhibited again at the Louvre Museum.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
