Security Failures Gave Louvre Museum Jewel Thieves a 30-Second Head Start, Review Finds.

A government-ordered investigation has revealed that the burglars who stole crown jewels from the Louvre in October escaped police by a narrow margin of just 30 seconds, a delay caused by critical security lapses, rather than luck alone.

According to the inquiry, only one of the two surveillance cameras covering the entry point used by the thieves was operational when they broke in.

Security control-room staff were unable to monitor all camera feeds in real time because there were too few screens. Once the alarm was triggered, police were initially dispatched to the wrong location inside the museum, wasting precious seconds.

Investigators concluded that had the second camera worked, or had security personnel been watching live footage, the thieves could very likely have been apprehended.

The balcony the burglars used to enter the building was previously identified in a 2019 audit as a weak point, yet no effective reinforcements were ever implemented.

The investigation described this and other ignored recommendations as part of a broader pattern of negligence. The stolen jewels, valued at roughly US$102 million, remain missing.

All four suspected intruders have been arrested, but authorities say they still lack leads on the whereabouts of the treasures.

The findings have triggered widespread criticism of Louvre management, especially targeting its director, who is now scheduled to appear before lawmakers next week. The museum’s staff have announced plans to strike, demanding urgent measures to address understaffing, poor investment in security, and structural neglect.

This report has become a wake-up call over the fragility of protections even at world-famous cultural institutions, prompting calls for immediate reforms in how priceless heritage items are safeguarded.

Sources: Reuters; Associated Press; The Guardian