On Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the arrest of the fourth subject of the brazen attack on the Musée du Louvre, a shocking report has resurfaced.
In 2018, high-end luxury stores were experiencing a rise in theft. The Paris Prefecture urged businesses and museums to review their own security measures. President of the Louvre, Jean-Luc Martinez, and the security and safety team from Van Cleef & Arpels audited the security system of the Galerie d’Apollon.
The audit produced a two-page report that is now coming back to haunt the Louvre.
Van Cleef & Arpels security pointed out the vulnerability, specifically of the balcony of the gallery. To make matters worse, even mentioned that a nancelle, a furniture lift, could easily reach the balcony and the window.
In 2018, it was also noted that the security cameras on the facade were insufficient to cover the space.
On the day of the theft, the current president of the Louvre, Laurence des Cars, requested all documents related to construction work on the Galerie d’Apollon since 2000. This document has surfaced in Le Monde, and the security director of Van Cleef & Arpels has confirmed its authenticity, but nothing further has been confirmed.
It should be noted that in March of 2019, the gallery underwent a restoration, including the addition of new cases designed by Juan-Felioe Alarćon that fully met all security requirements.
The Louvre can’t catch a break these days, from the theft of the Crown Jewels to the structural issues of the 2nd floor of the south Sully wing to the report from the Cour des Comptes.
*** UPDATE
The hits just keep on coming. Today, RTL radio had access to a 35-page report dating from July 2007. Ordered by Marc Bascou, then curator of the Objets d’art department, and handled by security company CESG.
Rating the Galerie d’Apollon “high risk” and the “vulnerabilities of the windows”. This can all “facilitate the performance of malicious acts during the day and less busy hours.”
"It seems essential to put in place a real, specific safety/security policy adapted to the scale of the risks of the Apollon exhibition hall,"
CESG recommended moving the jewels to a new space away from windows. In 2007, 18 years ago.