Can Shortages in Museum Security Constitute a ‘Right Way’ to Steal Art? Eight Pieces of Jewelry Stolen from the Louvre in France

“Four people committed a crime and stole eight priceless treasures in seven minutes.” The Louvre Museum in Paris, France, was broken into by thieves on the morning of October 19, 2025, including Napoleon’s gifts to his wife Marie. Eight pieces of 19th-century French royal jewels, including Queen Louise’s emerald necklace, were stolen in just seven minutes. According to the assessment of the French Ministry of the Interior, these stolen treasures have “incalculable cultural and historical value”, and because the thieves committed the crime in broad daylight, it has raised public concerns about museum security loopholes and staff shortages. This is also the theft of a national treasure from the Louvre that has attracted the most attention in the world since the Mona Lisa was stolen in 1911. However, French trade unions and museum employees have pointed out that they have previously warned that manpower shortages may cause security loopholes. Problems that should have been able to be improved and prevented have now unfortunately become an opportunity.

The Louvre theft occurred on Sunday, October 19, between 9:30 and 9:40 a.m. Shortly after the museum opened at that time, four masked robbers used a truck equipped with a lifting platform to lift themselves to the window sill on the first floor of the museum on the side of the Seine River (the ground floor is the second floor in Taiwan). They then used a disc cutter to cut the glass plate, and the two people entered the museum. Two robbers then broke into the famous “Galerie d’Apollon” (Galerie d’Apollon), which houses many precious royal jewels. They threatened the guards on duty and then smashed two glass display cases and stole eight pieces of jewellery. The process alarm sounded, and the staff contacted safety personnel in accordance with the procedures and evacuated to protect tourists. No one was injured in the incident. The robber quickly fled the scene on a motorcycle. According to the staff, the robbers tried to burn the lift truck they were using, but the process was stopped by the staff.

The robbery took place in broad daylight and was committed only 800 meters away from the Paris police headquarters. According to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, the robbers completed the crime in less than seven minutes, showing that they had clear intentions, were quite bold and “prepared”, and had conducted a complete and rigorous “site investigation” before committing the crime. Culture Minister Rachida Dati said that surveillance footage showed that the robbers appeared “calm” and moved quickly and quickly when entering the museum. After the theft, the Louvre declared an emergency closure to investigate.

October 19, 9:30 to 9:40 a.m. Shortly after the museum opened, the gangsters used a truck equipped with a lifting platform to lift themselves to the windowsill on the Seine side of the museum. Photo/European News Agency

After climbing onto the window sill, the criminals used a disc cutter to cut through the glass panels and enter the building. Photo/Reuters

The target of the robbery this time was French royal jewels. According to the French Ministry of Culture, these collections can be traced back to France’s royal or imperial rule in the 19th century, and most of them belong to the wives of Napoleon and his successors. Among them, the most regrettable ones include the gifts Napoleon gave to his second queen, Marie. Louise’s emerald necklace and earrings; Marie. Among the sapphire jewelry of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense of the Netherlands, a tiara, a necklace and a pair of earrings.

In addition, a crown (set with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds) owned by Napoleon III’s Empress Eugenie fell when the thieves fled. Although she was found near the crime scene, she was severely damaged when she was found. In addition, her pearl crown and large bow brooch were taken away by the thieves, and an ornament called a “reliquary brooch” was also stolen.

On the day of the theft, the Louvre Museum urgently announced its closure and evacuated tourists. Photo/European News Agency

Labor woes create safety breach? There are more and more tourists, but less and less manpower

The Louvre robbery is the most high-profile incident since the theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” in 1911, raising questions about the security protection mechanism of French art museums. People criticized that a museum as famous as the Louvre would allow robbers’ lift truck to enter the park without inspection, and it could also be smoothly raised to the first-floor window platform, allowing the robbers to break in through the window. In addition, the robbers were able to cut open the museum’s windows using only a battery-powered disc cutter, and the collection display cabinets were smashed in a short time, calling into question the museum’s ability to resist external intrusions.

The robbery occurred in the presence of tourists. Although the alarm sounded normally and the staff followed procedures to contact the security forces and evacuate the tourists smoothly, there were no casualties. However, people still question the Louvre’s preventive capabilities during operating hours, believing that the official response was too slow and failed to stop well-prepared robbers.

In addition, Louvre Museum employees launched a general strike in June this year to protest the museum’s inability to cope with too many tourists and chronic manpower shortages, and called on the museum to improve the poor working conditions. The Labor Union (SUD) pointed out after the theft that the Louvre has laid off about 200 full-time positions in the past 15 years. The number of visitors to the museum has grown rapidly in recent years, but manpower has become increasingly tight and patrols have become ineffective, making security concerns increasingly serious. David Belliard, deputy mayor of Paris, pointed out on

The target of this theft was jewelry rather than easily identifiable world-famous paintings. According to the analysis of the BBC, criminals know that in addition to their huge historical and cultural value, jewelry such as crowns, tiaras, and necklaces can also be broken down, cut, and sold for cash, so they often become targets of crimes. But now that it has been stolen, it may be quite difficult to see the complete deity again in the future. The French Culture Ministry said it was aware that French museums were vulnerable to criminal groups and was gradually implementing security plans.

A set of crowns belonging to Empress Eugenie (set with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds) was determined to have been dropped by a thief during his escape, but was severely damaged when recovered. Picture/Public information of Louvre Museum

Police patrols were stepped up outside the Louvre after the theft. Photo/AFP

Historical theft at the Louvre: Where are the collections that are still missing?

The Louvre was originally a royal palace built at the end of the 12th century and is now one of the largest art museums in the world. During its 230-year history as a museum, despite tight security measures, several shocking thefts have occurred, and many of the works are still “evaporated” and their whereabouts are unknown.

The theft of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” on August 11, 1911 is still widely circulated today. The thief was Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian immigrant from Perugia who was a craftsman who worked in the museum, making picture frames and display cabinets. At that time, he was wearing an old uniform, entered the museum without being suspected by the guards, and hid in a closet overnight. Then he took the painting out of the frame, wrapped it in work clothes, and walked out of the museum with it tucked under his arm. It was not until more than 24 hours later that the work was discovered missing.

Perugia claimed that he committed the crime out of patriotism. During his work, he saw a large number of works in the Louvre Museum coming from Italy. In a state of psychological imbalance, he decided to bring this great work of Leonardo da Vinci back to Italy. The “Mona Lisa” we see today was recovered in Italy after being stolen for two years. At that time, Perugia was trying to sell it to another museum.

Photo/AFP

There are many cases of theft in broad daylight in history. In 1966, a batch of antique jewelry was stolen on its way back to France after being loaned to the Virginia Museum and was later found in a grocery bag in New York. In 1990, a thief cut up and stole a small painting by Renoir and also stole 12 pieces of ancient Roman jewelry. On May 31, 1983, a 16th-century Renaissance helmet and armor were stolen from the museum. Nearly 40 years later, in March 2021, this set of cultural relics was moved from a family collection in western France and returned to the Louvre.

It’s always exciting when stolen artifacts are found, but to this day there are still many collections that have yet to be found. This includes the 19th-century artist Camille Corot’s famous landscape painting “Le Chemin de Sèvres” (Le Chemin de Sèvres), which was stolen in 1998. This work was taken down from the wall when no one was paying attention, and the painting never appeared again, which caused the Louvre to undergo a large-scale security overhaul. In December 1976, a masked robber climbed into the second-floor scaffolding during construction and stole the sword once owned by King Charles X of France. The sword has not yet been recovered.

The Louvre theft incident coincided with the release of the movie “The Mastermind”, which tells the story of an art robbery that took place in Massachusetts, USA. By Josh. James Blaine Mooney, a down-and-out architect played by Josh O’Connor, breaks into an art museum during the day with his accomplices and steals four paintings. However, keeping these works of art is more difficult than stealing, so Mooney is forced to start a difficult life of escape.

“Art Stealing” explores why art thefts surged in the 1970s. Art historian Tom Flynn believes that the art market boomed in the 1970s, and art and antique appreciation programs were continuously launched, including the famous BBC reality show “Antiques Roadshow”, which was launched in 1977. He believes that under this “cultural change”, people began to regard artworks as the equivalent of money and no longer valued historical and cultural values. In addition, in the early 1970s, the United States faced high inflation, museums faced a funding crisis, and security personnel and funds were greatly reduced. When criminals realized that museum security was gradually fragile, art and collections also became easy targets.

Text/Li Muyi

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Does the Louvre heist expose a pattern of systemic security failures in museums, potentially creating opportunities for theft?

The recent theft of eight pieces of jewelry from the Louvre museum in Paris has ignited a debate far beyond the immediate loss. While theft is unequivocally illegal, the circumstances surrounding this incident – specifically, the apparent vulnerabilities in the museum’s security – raise uncomfortable questions. Can systemic failures in safeguarding cultural heritage inadvertently create a moral grey area, or even a perceived justification for opportunistic crime? This article delves into the details of the Louvre heist, explores the concept of security negligence and its potential legal ramifications, and examines the broader implications for art theft, museum security, and the protection of cultural property.

The Louvre Jewelry Heist: A Breakdown

On November 3rd, 2023, it was reported that a brazen theft occurred at the Louvre, targeting a collection of jewelry. The stolen items, part of a larger exhibit, were discovered missing during a routine inventory check. Initial investigations revealed no signs of forced entry, suggesting an inside job or a significant lapse in security protocols.

* Items Stolen: The stolen jewelry included pieces from the Galerie d’Apollon, a section of the Louvre renowned for its crown jewels and precious artifacts.

* Value of the Stolen Items: While the exact value remains undisclosed, experts estimate the loss to be substantial, potentially reaching millions of euros.

* Investigation Status: The investigation is ongoing, with French authorities focusing on potential internal involvement and reviewing security footage. Two former Louvre employees are currently under investigation.

* Security Concerns: The incident immediately highlighted concerns about the adequacy of security measures within the world-renowned museum, particularly given its vast size and the sheer volume of valuable artifacts it houses.

Security Negligence and Legal Responsibility

The question of whether security shortcomings can constitute a “right way” to steal art is, of course, rhetorical. theft remains a crime. however, the concept of negligence plays a crucial role in understanding the legal and ethical dimensions of this case.

Defining Security Negligence

Security negligence occurs when a museum or institution fails to exercise reasonable care in protecting its assets, creating a foreseeable risk of theft or damage. This can manifest in several ways:

* Insufficient Staffing: Understaffed security teams, particularly during peak hours, can leave vulnerable areas unattended.

* Outdated Technology: Reliance on outdated surveillance systems, alarm systems, or access control measures.

* Inadequate Training: Lack of proper training for security personnel in identifying and responding to potential threats.

* Poor Risk Assessment: Failure to conduct thorough risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and implement appropriate safeguards.

* Lack of Procedural Oversight: Absence of robust procedures for inventory management, access control, and emergency response.

Legal Ramifications for Museums

if a museum is found to have been negligent in its security measures, it could face legal consequences, including:

* Civil Lawsuits: The museum could be sued by insurance companies or private collectors for the value of the stolen items.

* Criminal Charges: In certain specific cases, museum officials could face criminal charges if their negligence is deemed gross or reckless.

* reputational Damage: A major security breach can severely damage a museum’s reputation, leading to a decline in visitor numbers and funding.

Historical Precedents: art Theft and Security Lapses

The Louvre heist is not an isolated incident. History is replete with examples of art crimes facilitated by security vulnerabilities.

* The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist (1990): This remains one of the largest art thefts in history, with 13 works valued at over $500 million stolen. Security was notoriously lax, with a single security guard on duty.

* The Van Gogh Museum Thefts (2002 & 2010): Multiple paintings were stolen from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam due to weaknesses in the alarm system and security protocols.

* The Dresden Green Diamond Theft (2019): The theft of valuable jewels from the Green Vault in Dresden, Germany, exposed significant flaws in the museum’s security infrastructure.

These cases demonstrate a recurring pattern: inadequate security measures create opportunities for thieves, and museums frequently enough bear the brunt of the consequences. The term museum vulnerability is increasingly used in security assessments.

The Role of Insurance and Art Recovery

Art insurance plays a critical role in mitigating the financial impact of theft. However, insurance coverage does not excuse negligence. Museums are still responsible for implementing adequate security measures to prevent losses.

* Insurance Claims: following a theft, museums typically file insurance claims to recover the value of the stolen items.

* Art Recovery Teams: Specialized art recovery teams, often working with