Paris – A startling security lapse at the Louvre museum contributed to the October heist of precious jewels, with an employee revealing the password to the museumS video surveillance system was simply “louvre,” according to Paris public prosecutor Laure Beccuau. The revelation comes as authorities continue to search for the stolen items and at least one suspect still at large, despite charges being filed against four individuals.
The ease with which the surveillance system was compromised raises serious questions about security protocols at one of the world’s most visited museums and underscores the vulnerability of cultural institutions to increasingly brazen theft.The Apollo Gallery, which housed the stolen jewels, remains closed to the public as the examination continues, impacting tourism and access to invaluable historical artifacts. The value of the stolen jewels has not been disclosed, but their recovery is paramount to both their preservation and the restoration of public trust in the Louvre’s security measures.
Four suspects have been charged in connection with the robbery. The first two arrested were a 39-year-old taxi driver and a 34-year-old delivery man and garbage collector from the northern Parisian suburbs. Their DNA was found at the scene, and they “partially admitted their involvement,” beccuau stated in a Franceinfo radio interview Sunday. The unemployed garbage collector was apprehended at Charles de Gaulle Airport while attempting to board a one-way flight to Algeria.
Two additional suspects,a 37-year-old man and his 38-year-old domestic partner,also from the northern regions of Paris,have since been charged. Beccuau noted that the suspects do not appear to be linked to organized crime.
“All avenues are being explored,” beccuau said, adding that recent arrests have “led to new searches and the seizure of new objects that are being examined.”
