Louvre Museum Director Resigns Following Major Jewelry Heist

Paris. The director of France's world-renowned Louvre Museum, Laurence des Cars, has resigned following the highly publicized jewelry theft incident. She submitted her resignation to French President Emmanuel Macron.

In the theft that occurred on October 19 last year, the thieves entered the museum through a balcony using a mechanical lift installed on a stolen vehicle, accessing the premises near the Seine River. Eight valuable pieces of jewelry, valued at approximately 88 million Euros, were stolen in the incident. These items have not yet been recovered.

Among the stolen jewelry is reportedly a diamond and emerald-studded necklace given by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte to his wife. While fleeing the scene, the thieves dropped Empress Eugenie's 19th-century diamond-studded tiara, which sustained minor damage. According to the museum, the tiara is in a condition to be fully restored after repairs.

Following the incident, Des Cars admitted that the CCTV system surrounding the museum was weak and outdated. It was found that the only camera monitoring the area of the theft was not pointed towards the balcony. Des Cars, who has been the director since 2021, had put forward a plan to double the number of CCTV cameras. A parliamentary inquiry into the security lapse is ongoing.