Visitors walked through the rainy courtyard of the Louvre Museum in Paris on Monday, October 27, 2025, taking in the famous landmark despite the wet weather. (AP Photo)
Just days after thieves pulled off a daring daylight robbery at the Louvre, a former burglar says he had already warned the museum about its weak security years ago. Eight pieces from France’s crown jewels vanished within minutes, and ex-robber David Desclos says the heist happened exactly as he predicted.
A Warning Ignored
Standing near the Louvre’s glass pyramid, Desclos recalled how he alerted museum staff to potential break-in points during a 2020 visit. The former thief had been invited to the Apollo Gallery to discuss an old art theft for a podcast.
“Have you seen those windows? They’re a piece of cake,” he said. “People could easily slip in. There are plenty of ways inside.”
Desclos explained that he mentioned the gallery’s windows and display cases to a senior museum official after recording the podcast but not to the museum’s director.
Heist Mirrors His Prediction
On Sunday, two thieves wearing bright safety vests broke through a window of the same Apollo Gallery. They used power tools to smash open display cases and escaped within minutes.
Authorities say eight crown jewels disappeared, with an estimated value of over $100 million. Empress Eugénie’s diamond crown was found damaged near the scene. Police have arrested two suspects, though others remain free.
“Exactly what I said,” Desclos noted. “They came through the windows, grabbed the jewels, and vanished.”
He said timing was key. “If you strike during opening hours, the first alarm layer shuts down,” he explained. “You’ve got five to seven minutes before police show up.”
Old Cases More Secure, Says Desclos
The Louvre revamped its display cases in 2019, but Desclos believes the new design made the jewels easier to reach.
“The old cases dropped treasures to safety in an attack,” he said. “Now, they’re right there. You’re making life easier for burglars.”
The Louvre defended its updated cases, saying they meet modern security standards.
Still, Desclos insists one window stood out. “When I saw that specific window, I thought they were crazy,” he said.
He claims he held back details on the podcast to avoid giving ideas to potential criminals.
From Criminal to Comedian
Desclos’ life story reads like a movie. Raised in Caen, Normandy, he began stealing food as a child and later specialized in disabling alarm systems. In the 1990s, he and a crew famously dug through sewers to reach a bank vault.
Now reformed, he performs comedy shows about his past. Still, he says he has no information about the recent Louvre heist.
Security Concerns Grow
The theft has reignited debate over museum safety. The Paris Police Chief will address the French Senate this week about protecting national treasures.
Earlier this year, Louvre staff went on strike, citing overworked guards and crowded galleries.
As for the missing jewels, Desclos doubts they’ll be recovered intact. “Most likely, they’ll be broken up and sold stone by stone,” he said.
His advice to protect what’s left is blunt: “Keep the real ones in a vault. Show replicas.” Reports say the remaining crown jewels have now been moved to France’s central bank for safekeeping.
“They should have listened,” Desclos concluded.
