Following a daylight robbery where eight pieces of jewelry, valued at over $100 million, were stolen from the Louvre Museum, Director Laurence des Cars provided her first public comments at a Senate hearing.
Ms. des Cars acknowledged the museum's failure to protect important historical objects and confirmed that security improvements are necessary at the world's most-visited museum. She also revealed that her resignation offer to France's culture minister was refused.
Despite the significant theft, Ms. des Cars maintained that the Louvre's alarm systems had functioned normally and that staff responded appropriately during the incident, in which four thieves utilized an electric ladder and power tools. She characterized the event as a "setback," while emphasizing her view that the theft was not "inevitable."
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/world/europe/louvre-museum-robbery-open-paris.html