Louvre Director Resigns After Heist
The director of the Louvre Museum has resigned following a series of scandals, including a major jewel heist described as the "heist of the century" and widespread ticket fraud. French President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation "as an act of responsibility" at a time when the world's most visited museum faces urgent needs for security upgrades. The leadership change signals a turbulent moment for the cultural institution.
- The outgoing director, Laurence des Cars, was the first woman to lead the Louvre and had been in the position since 2021. She had previously offered to resign on the day of the heist in October, but it was rejected at the time by France's culture minister. - The jewel heist involved the theft of items valued at approximately €88 million ($102 million) from the Apollo Gallery. The daylight robbery was completed in less than eight minutes, with thieves using a vehicle-mounted ladder to access a second-floor window and cut through display cases. - The separate ticket fraud scheme is suspected of running for a decade, costing the museum an estimated €10 million ($11.8 million). Investigators allege tour guides reused tickets for multiple groups, at times with the help of bribed Louvre employees. - Among the eight items stolen were an emerald necklace and earrings belonging to Empress Marie-Louise and a pearl and diamond diadem made for Empress Eugénie. The historic jewels have not been recovered, though several suspects have been arrested in connection with the heist. - A state audit report released after the theft noted that security upgrades recommended following a 2015 audit were not scheduled to be completed until 2032. As of 2024, only 39% of the museum's rooms were equipped with cameras. - Beyond the scandals, the museum has also recently contended with staff strikes over working conditions, a burst pipe near the "Mona Lisa," and water leaks that damaged priceless books. - In response to the security failures, the museum plans to install 100 new surveillance cameras, add anti-intrusion systems, and has created a new "security coordinator" position.
