The Louvre’s key security code at the time of the robbery was reportedly “Louvre”
It’s unclear what tone the film’s retelling of the Louvre jewel heist will take, but the latest news from Paris suggests it was 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 works of art, prioritized high-profile acquisitions and renovation projects over recommended security upgrades. To add insult to injury, allegations emerged today that France’s crown jewels, worth an estimated $102 million, disappeared at the time of the robbery and that the password to the museum’s critical security surveillance system was simply “Louvre.”
The French daily reviewed a 2014 report by the French Information Security Agency (ANSSI) liberation The warning was that it was the password to a server that monitors the museum’s extensive CCTV network. Meanwhile, access to software run by security technology company Thales is protected by the similarly inspired password “THALES”. liberation. ANSSI did not confirm or deny the report CNNsaying the audit “cannot be considered representative of the current security level of the Louvre’s IT systems.”
The French Audit Chamber’s report, part of which was leaked to the media shortly after the break-in, found that “plans to modernize the security system were repeatedly delayed” and that the cameras were mostly “installed only after rooms were renovated.” The report further criticized the museum for failing to prioritize enhanced security despite having an annual operating budget of 323 million euros ($376 million), adding that “the amounts committed are small compared to projected needs.”
Across the museum’s 465 museum galleries, only 432 CCTV cameras will be used to monitor interiors by 2024, an improvement of nearly 50% from 2019, but 61% of galleries will still have no CCTV surveillance, the report said.
Earlier this year, the Louvre and President Macron unveiled plans for a major renovation of the museum, expected to cost 700 million to 800 million euros ($815 million to $932 million). Culture Minister Rachida Dati later said part of the budget would be dedicated to bringing the museum’s security systems into line with audit recommendations.
Dati added that new CCTV equipment would be installed and the government would launch an investigation into the theft and security breach while police investigations were ongoing.
