Louvre Heist Video Reveals Guards' Hesitation as Robbers Escape

A group of guards seems to hesitate on how to proceed. One is seen making a telephone call. One of them grabs a rope stanchion and takes a few steps toward the robbers before changing his mind and retreating. The group remains inert in a corner as the thieves go to work. After four minutes, the two robbers depart, dropping several pieces of jewellery on the floor and leaving them there. The raiders appear unarmed but police said they threatened the guards with electric cutting discs. • Password for Louvre’s video surveillance system was ‘Louvre’ The video, to be broadcast on Complément d’enquête, an investigative programme on France 2, equivalent to BBC1, has reinforced the impression that Louvre staff were unprepared and unequipped to deal with daylight robbery. Police, called in by the museum’s security unit, arrived a minute after the gang had driven away. Rachida Dati, the culture minister, said on Sunday that personnel changes at France’s biggest museum are imminent. She gave no details, but Laurence des Cars, the Louvre director, has been under fire over failures in the museum’s security since the October 19 raid.