Thief invited by Louvre to appear on podcast warned of security lapses

• A former bank robber, David Desclos, claims he warned a Louvre official about critical security flaws years before eight French crown jewels were stolen from the museum.
• Desclos, who was invited for a 2020 podcast, highlighted the vulnerability of jewel cases near streetside windows and criticised a 2019 overhaul of display cases for making artefacts more accessible.
• The recent heist saw two thieves smash a window in the Apollo Gallery and use power tools to steal items valued at over $100 million, with a ninth piece found damaged outside.
• Desclos stated the theft occurred exactly as he predicted, emphasising that performing such a crime in broad daylight disables initial alarms and allows a short window before police arrive.
• Following the incident, remaining crown jewels have reportedly been moved to the Banque de France's secure vaults, with Desclos advocating for originals to be stored there and replicas displayed.

IN FULL

Now former thief claims he warned Louvre bosses security was inadequate