Louvre museum director resigns months after high-profile heist
The director of the Louvre in Paris has resigned, months after the high-profile theft of the French crown jewels from one of the world’s most visited museums.
Laurence des Carrs presented her resignation to President Emmanel Macron, who welcomed her decision at a time when the museum needs “calm and a strong new impetus to carry out major security and modernization projects”.
On the morning of October 19, thieves used a mechanical elevator mounted on a stolen vehicle to access the museum from a balcony near the Seine.
The four main suspects were arrested, but the eight precious jewels, worth an estimated €88 million (£76 million, $104 million), were not found.
Among them, a diamond and emerald necklace that Emperor Napoleon gave to his wife was stolen.
While fleeing, the thieves dropped a 19th-century diamond-studded crown belonging to Empress Eugenie, which was damaged.
Earlier this month, the Louvre released the first image of the damaged crown since the raid, saying it was “almost intact” and could be fully restored.
The Louvre is home to priceless works of art, including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
Days after the raid, Carrs admitted that the CCTV around the perimeter of the Louvre was weak and “aging” – the only camera monitoring the exterior wall of the Louvre where the thieves broke in pointed to the balcony which led to the Apollo Gallery housing the jewels.
Despite the museum’s huge volume of visitors – more than 8.7 million a year – investment in security has been slow and she highlighted the budgetary challenges major institutions face.
Des Cars, who became director of the Louvre in 2021, said she wanted to double the number of video surveillance cameras.
A parliamentary inquiry into these failures is underway.
Its findings are expected in May, but a preliminary report released last week spoke of “systemic failures” that enabled the break-in.
Since then, the museum has also been the victim of an alleged ticket fraud scheme, as well as a water leak.
Empress Eugenie’s crown damaged after being dropped by fleeing thieves [Louvre Museum]
Two of the stolen items – including Empress Eugenie’s crown (top right) – were later found near the museum. [AFP via Getty Images]
