The Louvre Museum will install 100 surveillance cameras and anti-intrusion systems following the theft of France’s crown jewels last month. Director Laurence des Cars announced the measures to the Committee of Cultural Affairs of the National Assembly, noting that the cameras will monitor the building's exterior for "complete protection of the museum's surroundings." The anti-intrusion systems will be operational within two weeks, while the cameras are expected by the end of next year. The theft involved disc cutters used to break glass display cases in the Apollo Gallery, a method des Cars said had not been anticipated when the cases were replaced in 2019.
The incident underscores vulnerabilities in museum security even at major institutions, prompting the Louvre to accelerate its "Louvre New Renaissance" modernization plan. The museum, which received over 8 million visitors this year despite daily caps, faces aging infrastructure—its 1980s upgrades are now considered obsolete. The theft and subsequent security overhaul highlight the ongoing challenge of balancing public access with protection of irreplaceable cultural heritage, especially as museums worldwide confront sophisticated theft methods.