Is the Louvre Heist honourable?
Perhaps, like the museum institutes, those involved in the heist had no honourable intent but to serve themselves.
If you have scrolled through TikTok or other social media platforms within the last three months, then you have most likely come across some sort of news coverage, reaction video, or opinionated takes that comment on the events of the Louvre museum heist in Paris, France.
The heist occurred on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at approximately 9:30 am and in plain sight at the supposedly secure Louvre Museum. Four suspects dressed as construction workers blended in as ordinary people attempting to get the job done.
While it is not uncommon for any criminal to disguise themselves to avoid being identified, I particularly found the construction worker disguises to be quite clever because they raised no immediate suspicion. Spotting construction workers anywhere and at any given moment is not an odd sight.
But what made this heist different?
Well, many commented on the museum’s negligence in taking better security measures. By setting their surveillance in a position facing the Seine River rather than having it face the Apollo Gallery Balcony, a sneaky surveillance blind spot was created.
Additionally, the Museum previously set their surveillance camera passwords to be the word Louvre allowing said cameras to get easily hacked, highlighting the consistencies in their security flaws.
As far as we know, this particular heist was not about culture but driven by personal motives. The stolen French crown’s jewels and jewellery were valued at over 100 million USD.
But, some say the Museum had it coming for them as karma for robbing civilizations of their culture. Some claim that heists can be done in the name of justice. Because, for long, France has been benefiting from the stolen artefacts of their former colonies, without reparations.
Who should we blame for how stolen artifacts continue to find their way into museums? Are museums around the world, like the Louvre, Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), the British Museum, making genuine efforts to honour these artefacts?
I, for one, believe that this issue is not a matter of one person’s actions but rather the effects of colonialism on cultures and heritages globally. This is the result of false and delusional entitlements over other people’s property and way of living. Dragging parts of people’s history into enclosed spaces with “do not touch signs” is quite ironic.
However, it does seem that museums like the Louvre, ROM, and British Museum continue to take good measures to preserve these artefacts in the name of educating others. The digitalization of museums, a feature that has emerged over the past few years, is one way that has amplified the preservation of culture.
The digitalization of museums can be efficient, cost friendly, easily accessible with the widespread use of technology, whilst allowing for others to learn about cultural artefacts without physically viewing them and instead allowing the countries of origin to reclaim their heritage.
Whilst some involved in the Louvre heist have been caught, the jewels are yet to be returned. And while there have been hasty assumptions made by the internet that the heist was done in the name of a noble pursuit—returning the artefacts to the rightful owners—we must also understand that it was not their act to commit.
Perhaps, like the museum institutes, those involved in the heist had no honourable intent but to serve themselves.
