2018 Security Audit Exposed Louvre Balcony Vulnerability Ahead of Crown Jewels Heist

Police continue investigating the audacious October 19, 2025 heist at the Louvre, where France's crown jewels were stolen from the Apollo Gallery. Newly uncovered documents reveal that a 2018 security audit commissioned by then-director Jean-Luc Martinez had already identified the balcony used by the thieves as a significant vulnerability. The audit, conducted by luxury jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels, highlighted the balcony's ease of access, noting that experienced criminals could exploit a freight elevator to reach it. Surveillance cameras in the area provided inadequate coverage, compounding the risk.

Despite these alarming findings, the Paris judicial system has yet to review this crucial report, which may aid in identifying potential accomplices linked to leaked information. The Louvre's current president, Laurence des Cars, stated that the museum was unaware of this audit until after the heist due to documentation lapses during leadership changes in 2021.

In the aftermath of the break-in, which lasted only eight minutes and involved masked thieves wielding power tools, authorities have arrested four additional suspects. These include two men aged 38 and 39, and two women aged 31 and 40, with one possibly being the elusive fourth member of the burglary squad. However, the stolen jewels, valued at approximately 88 million euros—including Empress Eugénie's diamond tiara—remain missing.

This revelation has intensified criticism from the Senate, the Court of Accounts, and the Ministry of Culture over the Louvre's security management. Prior to the heist, Martinez had responded to warnings by seeking further detailed assessments to bolster the protection of France's national treasures. The unfolding investigation now hinges on how the 2018 audit's neglected warnings could have facilitated the crime and whether insider leaks played a role.