A former bank robber, David Disclos, has stated that he had warned a senior official at the Louvre Museum about obvious vulnerabilities, including display cases for jewels placed next to windows overlooking the street, which were 'very easy' to attack. 'Exactly what I had predicted and warned about happened,' he said. Disclos added that the timing was part of the ploy: 'Do it in broad daylight, at opening time — this disables the first layer of the alarm. You know you have five to seven minutes before the police arrive.' He also expressed his disbelief that the museum had changed the display cases to leave the jewels within easy reach. 'They came through the windows. They came, took, and left.' In response, the Louvre pushed back against such criticism, stating that its newer display cases are more secure and meet modern standards. The stolen items are valued at over $100 million. One piece, a diamond-encrusted tiara belonging to Empress Eugenie, was found damaged on the ground outside the museum. Two suspects have been apprehended, while others remain at large.
