Theft at the Louvre: The surveillance system’s password ‘LOUVRE’ has put the museum in crisis

The “heist of the century” continues to rock France, and some newspapers have reported sensational security flaws in the world’s most visited museum. Official documents dating back to 2014 and updated through 2024 appear to show that the passwords for the video surveillance systems were extremely simple: ” LOUVRE ” and ” THALES ,” the names of the museum and the security software responsible for protecting it, respectively.

The discovery, reported by Libération , casts a critical light on a system considered impenetrable, yet one that displays clear vulnerabilities. Culture Minister Rachida Dati, initially defensive, declared that “alarm bells have rung,” but later acknowledged before the Senate Culture Committee that “there were security lapses” and that a thorough investigation will be needed to determine who is responsible.

On October 20, shortly after the museum opened, a forklift truck parked the wrong way on the façade overlooking the Seine facilitated one of the most audacious thefts in the Louvre’s history. Two men broke into the Apollo Gallery, a room housing some of France’s most valuable treasures, slashing the display cases with grinders in a matter of minutes. The loot, estimated at €88 million in jewelry, was collected and transported by accomplices waiting on Yamaha T Max scooters.

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