Louvre Museum Security Overhaul: Anti-Ramming Barriers Being Installed Following $102 Million Jewelry Heist

Louvre's director stated that surveillance cameras failed to properly monitor the area where thieves gained entry. (File)

France's culture minister announced on Friday that anti-ramming barriers will be installed around the Louvre museum by the end of the year, following a significant heist that has renewed concerns about the facility's security measures.

The announcement follows an incident on October 19 when four thieves utilized a truck with a mechanical lift beneath one of the museum's windows during operational hours, then employed cutting equipment to break into a first-floor gallery and steal jewelry valued at approximately $102 million.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati, speaking after reviewing an initial assessment of the museum's security infrastructure, emphasized on Friday that immediate measures were essential to address the vulnerabilities.

"For over two decades, there has been a persistent underestimation of intrusion and theft risks at the Louvre," Dati told broadcaster TF1. "This situation cannot continue."

The report highlighted insufficient security equipment and "entirely outdated" protocols for responding to intrusions, she further stated.

Previously, Louvre director Laurence des Cars acknowledged that security cameras did not sufficiently monitor the thieves' entry point, with the only installed camera facing away from the balcony they used to enter.

Dati confirmed that the museum's internal security systems were functioning on the day of the theft, but also cautioned about "significant security deficiencies" around the exterior of the building.

To remedy some of these weaknesses, "anti-ramming" and "anti-intrusion" mechanisms would be installed "before the end of the year," she indicated, without providing specific details.

Des Cars mentioned last week that the first of several "anti-ramming" barriers was being positioned outside the museum.

French authorities have arrested seven individuals in connection with the robbery thus far, with two formally charged with theft and criminal conspiracy. However, the stolen items remain unrecovered.

Among the missing artifacts are an emerald-and-diamond necklace that Napoleon I presented to his wife, Empress Marie-Louise, and a diamond-studded diadem once belonging to Empress Eugenie, which features nearly 2,000 diamonds.