Laurence des Cars appeared before a Senate committee to try to explain how this theft was possible, in just eight minutes and for a value of over 100 million dollars, in the most visited museum in the world. Des Cars, in her first public statements since Sunday, stated that the museum alarms worked during the incident, but admitted that the surveillance cameras outside are "obsolete." "The [external camera park] is very insufficient, it does not clearly cover all the facades of the Louvre," she said.
"Unfortunately, on the side of the Apollo gallery, the only installed camera is oriented towards the west" and therefore did not cover the balcony affected by the theft. The official, who in 2021 became the first woman to lead the art gallery, also requested the installation of "a police station" within the establishment and suggested other "short-term" measures such as "the security of the Louvre surroundings, especially on the roadway." This theft is "an immense wound that has been inflicted on us," she said, admitting that she offered her resignation to the government, but it was rejected.
The incident rekindles the debate about the security measures of this museum, which last year received nine million visitors, 80% of whom were foreigners. French President Emmanuel Macron ordered on Wednesday to "accelerate" the reinforcement of security at the establishment, which reopened to the public after being closed since Sunday.