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Louvre Installs Security Bars After $102 Million Jewel Heist

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The Louvre museum in Paris has installed security bars on the balcony used by burglars in the October 19 heist that saw jewels worth an estimated $102 million stolen. The break-in, which lasted less than seven minutes, involved the thieves using a movers’ lift to access the Apollo gallery balcony, smashing a window, and escaping on scooters, highlighting serious gaps in the museum’s security.

The museum has stated that it is learning from the incident and is upgrading its security infrastructure. A crane was used to place the security grille on the balcony door, while additional measures include a mobile police squad stationed near the glass pyramid and plans to deploy 100 more cameras around the museum next year. Authorities have identified eight suspects, though the stolen jewels remain missing.

The heist exposed broader security and structural issues at the Louvre, including inadequate camera coverage of exterior walls and the balcony, alongside other challenges such as gallery closures, water damage to antiquities, and recent staff strikes. Officials emphasized that these improvements are part of a wider effort to transform and strengthen the museum’s security architecture to protect its priceless collections.

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Louvre Faces Backlash Over Security Failures After High-Profile Jewel Heist

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Three weeks after a daring daylight robbery saw €88m worth of crown jewels stolen from the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery, France’s prestigious museum is facing harsh criticism for neglecting security. A Court of Auditors report — completed before the heist — revealed that museum management prioritized new acquisitions and exhibitions over essential safety upgrades, despite repeated warnings. Culture Minister Rachida Dati and art experts have accused the Louvre of underestimating the threat and mismanaging funds intended to protect priceless heritage.

The report found that between 2018 and 2024, the museum invested more than €105m in new artworks and €63m in exhibition spaces, while spending far less on maintenance and security systems. These findings have cast doubt on the museum’s ambitious New Renaissance project, which includes a new entrance and a separate gallery for the Mona Lisa. Already over budget — rising from €700m to €1.15bn — the initiative is now being questioned for lacking proper feasibility and financial planning.

Meanwhile, the investigation into the theft continues, with four suspects arrested and the stolen jewels still missing. Among those detained is 39-year-old Abdoulaye N, a former Pompidou Centre guard known locally for viral motocross stunts, who reportedly did not even realise he was breaking into the Louvre. Authorities believe the suspects may have been petty criminals hired by a wealthier mastermind, making security lapses at the world’s most visited museum an even more alarming concern.

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Italian culture minister probed over stolen painting

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Italian Junior Culture Minister Vittorio Sgarbi is facing accusations of possessing and displaying a stolen 17th-century painting, “The Capture of Saint Peter,” which was reported stolen in 2013. Sgarbi, a well-known art critic and TV personality, is under investigation for laundering stolen goods as he included the painting in a 2021 exhibition. The artwork, by Rutilio Manetti, a follower of Caravaggio, used to be in a castle in Piedmont. Sgarbi is also accused of altering the painting by adding a candle to conceal its origin. He claims to have found the original while restoring a villa owned by his mother over 20 years ago, asserting that the stolen painting was a copy.

The allegations emerged in an investigation by Italian TV broadcaster Rai’s program ‘Report.’ The owner of the castle reported the theft, stating that the canvas was cut from the frame in 2013. It was revealed that a friend of Sgarbi had shown interest in buying the work before the theft. Another friend allegedly sent a damaged painting of “The Capture of Saint Peter” to a restorer, matching the cut piece from the stolen canvas. When displayed by Sgarbi in 2021, the painting had the added candle.

Sgarbi is also facing accusations related to another seized painting attributed to Valentin de Boulogne, valued at €5m (£4.3m), with investigations for illegal export. Sgarbi claims it’s a copy and not his property. Opposition parties are calling for his dismissal, and the Five Star Movement plans to present a motion in parliament. This comes as the second embarrassment for the Italian government this year, following an MP being investigated for taking a handgun to a New Year’s Eve party. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suspended the MP. As the European elections approach, political tensions may rise, and scandals could impact Italian politics.

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