A government audit leaked to Radio France reveals that the Louvre Museum's security system is "outdated and inadequate," following the robbery of French crown jewels from the museum on Sunday. The report, conducted by France's Court of Auditors, found repeated postponements of security modernization, with cameras mostly installed only when rooms were refurbished. In the Denon Wing, one-third of rooms lack CCTV; in the Richelieu Wing, 75 percent are without cameras. Only 138 additional cameras have been installed since 2019. The audit was initiated by Louvre president and director Laurence des Cars in 2021. Staff went on strike in June over understaffing, and the museum and President Macron recently announced a major renovation estimated at €700–800 million.
The findings have renewed criticism of the management of the world's most visited museum, which displays 36,000 works at any given time. Culture Minister Rachida Dati said a portion of the renovation budget would address security upgrades, and a government inquiry into the theft and security failings will be launched. The Culture Ministry defended the Galerie d’Apollon's security, stating alarms were triggered and staff intervened immediately. The CFDT trade union called for an independent audit, increased staffing, and transparency. The incident underscores systemic security vulnerabilities at a major cultural institution, raising urgent questions about visitor safety and the protection of priceless artworks.