The Louvre Museum in France installed a theft-proof railing on the balcony of the Gallerie d’Apollon on Tuesday, December 23. This area was the point of entry for the thieves who broke into the museum on October 19 and stole approximately $102 million (around 88 million euros) worth of French crown jewels and jewelry.
The shocking theft took place during the museum’s opening hours. Four thieves disguised as workers parked a freight elevator outside the museum. They climbed onto the balcony, smashed windows, entered the gallery, used an angle grinder to open display cases, stole several precious jewels, and fled on skateboards driven by their accomplices, the entire theft taking less than seven minutes.
Police have identified eight suspects, but the stolen jewels remain missing to this day. One of the crowns dropped onto the street during the thieves’ escape and was later recovered.
A spokesperson for the Louvre Museum posted on X platform, stating: “The Louvre Museum is learning from the theft on October 19 and continuing to implement reforms to strengthen the security system.”
On Tuesday, a crane lifted metal protective barriers to block the glass door leading to the balcony. Museum officials admitted that the external wall surveillance coverage was insufficient, and the balcony involved had no cameras monitoring it, leading to the installation of theft-proof railings to address this security loophole.
Additionally, the Louvre Museum announced other security upgrades, including deploying mobile police units in front of the iconic glass pyramid and adding 100 new cameras around the museum next year.
The Louvre Museum is the most visited museum globally and houses numerous priceless treasures, including the famous “Mona Lisa.” This theft not only exposed security vulnerabilities at the Louvre but also highlighted the multiple challenges the museum has faced in recent years. For instance, another exhibition hall near the Gallerie d’Apollon closed due to structural issues, the Egyptian antiquities department suffered book damage from leaks, and parts of the museum had to be closed for several days due to employee strikes.