It’s yet unclear what tone the cinematic retelling of the Louvre jewel heist will take, but the latest revelation from Paris suggests a farce.
A French court released a scathing report on Thursday detailing how leadership at the Louvre—home to some of the world’s most famous artworks—prioritized high-profile acquisitions and renovation projects over recommended security upgrades. Adding humiliation to injury, allegations emerged today that at the time of the heist, which saw roughly $102 million in French crown jewels vanish, the museum’s password to a key security surveillance system was, simply, “Louvre.”
A 2014 report from the French information security agency (ANSSI) reviewed by the French daily Libération warned that this was the password for the server overseeing the museum’s extensive CCTV network. Meanwhile, access to software operated by the security technology firm Thales was protected by the equally inspired password, “THALES,” per Libération. ANSSI did not confirm or deny the report to CNN, saying that the audit “cannot be considered representative of the current level of security” of the Louvre’s IT systems.
The report from France’s Court of Auditors, parts of which were leaked to the press shortly after the break-in, found that there had been “repeated postponements of the scheduled modernization of security systems,” with cameras mostly installed “only when rooms have been refurbished.” The report further criticized the museum for failing to prioritize security enhancements despite its annual operating budget of €323 million ($376 million), adding that “the amounts committed are small compared to the estimated needs.”
According to the report, of the museum’s 465 museum galleries, only 432 CCTV cameras were used to monitor the interior in 2024—a nearly 50% improvement since 2019, but one that still left 61% of the galleries without CCTV surveillance.
Earlier this year, the Louvre and President Emmanuel Macron unveiled plans for a major renovation of the museum, estimated at €700 million to €800 million ($815 million–$932 million). Rachida Dati, the culture minister, later said that a portion of that budget would be dedicated to bringing the museum’s security system in line with the audit’s recommendations.
Dati added that new CCTV equipment would be installed and that a government inquiry into the theft and security failings would be launched in parallel with the ongoing police investigation.
