After the Theft: Why Camera Upgrades Should Begin With a Risk Assessment

When thieves stole more than $80 million in jewels from the Louvre in Paris, they didn’t exploit a total absence of security but rather gaps in the museum’s broader security program, encompassing both aging systems and situational awareness, according to early reports. The museum’s director later confirmed that the balcony used in the break-in wasn’t covered by a functioning external camera; the only camera nearby faced the wrong direction. Meanwhile, French senators have questioned how a truck with an extendable lift could park the wrong way on a major road beside the museum, up against the wall, for two hours without anyone challenging it.

Even without cameras aimed at that façade, the scene alone should have prompted a quick response. A basic perimeter patrol, one of the most fundamental layers in any protection plan, might have noticed the lift, verified whether any construction work was scheduled, and reported or challenged the activity. If perimeter security had been fully briefed on maintenance schedules and empowered to question irregularities, the setup might have been recognized as suspicious much sooner.