Louvre Director Resigns After Heist
Laurence des Cars resigned as director of the Louvre Museum following what French media dubbed the "heist of the century" in October 2025, when high-value jewels were stolen from a special exhibition. Investigations revealed additional issues with ticket fraud and lax security protocols at the world's largest art collection. President Macron accepted her resignation as "an act of responsibility," emphasizing the need for urgent security upgrades ahead of the 2026 Paris Olympics.
- The thieves stole eight pieces of the French Crown Jewels from the Galerie d'Apollon with an estimated value of €88 million ($102 million). The heist was executed in less than eight minutes during the museum's regular opening hours. - A 2014 audit by France's national cybersecurity agency had previously warned the Louvre about serious security vulnerabilities, including outdated software and the use of "trivial" passwords like "Louvre" for the surveillance system. A later report revealed that as of 2024, only 39% of the museum's rooms were equipped with security cameras. - The ticket fraud investigation uncovered a scheme that had been running for a decade, costing the museum an estimated $12 million. Nine individuals were arrested in connection with the fraud, including two Louvre employees and several tour guides who allegedly reused tickets for up to 20 tour groups a day. - Laurence des Cars was the first woman to be appointed director of the Louvre in its 230-year history, taking the position in 2021. Before her role at the Louvre, she was the director of the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée de l'Orangerie. - In response to the heist, the Louvre is fast-tracking security upgrades that include installing 100 new perimeter cameras by the end of 2026 and establishing a police station on the museum's grounds. - Following the resignation of des Cars, Christophe Leribault, the former director of the Palace of Versailles, was appointed as the new head of the Louvre. His main priority is to enhance the security of the building and its collections. - The thieves gained access to the gallery by using a basket lift to reach a first-floor balcony, where they cut through a window. Despite the alarm being triggered, they escaped on scooters just 30 seconds before security and police arrived. - During their escape, the thieves dropped the Crown of Empress Eugénie, which was damaged. While several suspects were later arrested, the stolen jewels have not been recovered.
