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Culture Minister Rachida Dati has said that alarms worked during the robbery, but acknowledged “security gaps”. She also refused the resignation of the museum director and cited four failings: underestimated risk, underequipped security, ill-suited governance and “obsolete” protocols. Ms Dati told broadcaster TF1: “On public roads, anti-ramming and anti-intrusion devices will be installed before the end of the year.” The thieves used a truck-mounted basket lift to reach a window of the Apollo Gallery and fled with eight pieces of the crown jewels within minutes. Scrutiny by the French Senate this week investigated surveillance gaps and accountability, with some politicians and unions questioning whether the minister’s measures amount to gestures rather than durable reform. Louvre director Laurence des Cars has already said that the museum needs physical barriers to stop vehicles from parking close to vulnerable windows.
