Christophe Leribault, the newly appointed director of the Louvre Museum, has pledged to establish a “culture of security” following a high-profile theft that exposed significant vulnerabilities in the institution’s protection measures. The announcement comes nearly a year after thieves disguised as workers stole a collection of 19th-century royal crown jewels, valued at an estimated €88 million, from the museum’s Galerie d’Apollon.

Leribault, who took over in February, is tasked with addressing longstanding security shortcomings while advancing the Louvre’s extensive renovation program, its most ambitious update in four decades. Previously director of the Château de Versailles and Musée d’Orsay, Leribault has quickly gained support from labor unions and helped calm earlier unrest among museum staff.

The theft in October last year involved intruders using a truck-mounted lift to access the gallery from the Seine river side. They escaped with eight pieces of diamond- and emerald-studded jewelry, including the pearl crown of Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. Since the incident, five suspects have been arrested and are under investigation, but none of the stolen items have been recovered.

The raid was part of a recent wave of brazen museum thefts across Europe, which have seen criminals increasingly employing aggressive tactics to target movable, high-value objects. Europol has warned of the potential involvement of organized crime networks using new and violent methods. In recent months, museums in southern France, Spain, and Austria have also reported thefts of rare art and artifacts, heightening security concerns across the continent.

In response, the Louvre has fortified the entry points exploited in the robbery by installing metal bars, adding surveillance cameras, enhancing access controls, and increasing private security personnel. Additionally, the museum has embarked on a comprehensive security overhaul, budgeting over €80 million for upgrades that include plans for improved perimeter surveillance and the creation of a centralized security command center—measures that remain in progress.

The museum has removed its remaining crown jewels from the Galerie d’Apollon to a secure location and relocated their display to avoid turning the gallery into “a scene of the crime,” Leribault said. He acknowledged that, until recently, security investment had been minimal relative to acquisitions, highlighting a 2023 audit from the Cour des comptes which criticized the Louvre for spending €105 million on artworks while allocating only €3 million to security enhancements. At that time, fewer than 40 percent of the museum’s rooms had surveillance cameras.

A senior police officer has been brought on board to lead security efforts and coordinate safety protocols throughout the museum, reflecting a more integrated approach. Leribault emphasized that security measures will now be considered from the outset in all future projects.

Leribault is also managing the €1.1 billion Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance renovation, a presidential flagship initiative aimed at alleviating overcrowding and modernizing infrastructure. The project includes creating a new entrance and expanding the gallery housing the “Mona Lisa.” Some experts have questioned the timing of the renovations amid pressing security needs, but Leribault argued that the upgrades are necessary to address not only external threats but also environmental risks such as flooding and climate control challenges threatening the museum’s collections.

Much of the renovation budget will be allocated to replacing outdated heating and cooling systems and upgrading visitor facilities that support the museum’s nearly nine million annual guests. The French government is expected to cover about one-third of the costs, with the remainder reliant on private donations and international partnerships, including €300 million in licensing fees from the Louvre’s Abu Dhabi branch. Leribault has actively sought funding during trips to the United States and Japan, reporting positive responses from potential donors and aiming to complete fundraising within six months.