French TV Just Aired New Footage of Louvre Robbery

Earlier this week, French national broadcaster France Télévisions released never-before-seen footage of the October Louvre robbery in which thieves stole $102 million worth of the Crown Jewels.

The four-minute video was aired on the investigative program complementshows thieves bursting into the gallery and smashing several display cases with their fists and angle grinders, while security guards stood just feet away. It is reported national newspaper and times of londonViewed from multiple angles, the guard remains essentially motionless as the scene unfolds. One guard appeared to confront the thief with a rope pole and then retreated; another made a phone call. The rest do nothing but watch.

The video appeared to corroborate the findings of a security audit released in October, as well as testimony given at a Senate hearing held after the robbery. The audit concluded that the museum’s security system was “outdated and inadequate,” citing a severe lack of effective security cameras. During the first hearing, Louvre director Laurence Dekar said the robbery was not recorded because the only camera covering the gallery was facing the wrong direction.

Investigators later discovered that additional footage did exist, captured by a camera near the entrance. However, as the hearing revealed, it took guards eight minutes to get the correct information during the break-in because the Louvre’s security control room lacked enough monitors to view feeds from all the cameras simultaneously. By the time the relevant image appeared on the screen, the thief had already escaped.

For a country still reeling from looting, the newly released video is likely to fuel public anger and criticism that the Louvre is unprepared to protect its treasures. The Louvre has not commented publicly on the newly released footage.

Check out the video below: