Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
22nd July 2026 Issue no. 811

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Lalique heist: expert comment on museum security systems

Recently, French museum Lalique was hit with a $5 million robbery, less than a year after burglars smashed their way into the Louvre.

Mike Evanoff, security expert at Verkada, says that cultural institutions like Lalique and the Louvre are now easy targets due to their failure to embrace modern security technology. He comments: 

"This is the second major French museum theft in less than a year, and the pattern is identical: alarms that detect but don't deter, and response windows measured in minutes when thieves only need seconds. The Lalique Museum's alarm worked exactly as designed — it sounded the moment the door was forced — and the thieves still had time to spare before police arrived. It's an unfortunate reminder that detection isn't protection.

"The technology exists to close this gap. AI-powered detection and deterrence can do more than flag anomalous behavior — systems can trigger real-time countermeasures that stop a crime while it's happening.

"Too many museums remain easy targets because of well-documented underinvestment in security infrastructure. My sincere hope is that this serves as a wake-up call: invest in the unglamorous, modern, invisible infrastructure that preserves priceless cultural heritage for generations to come."

Mike Evanoff is the former U.S. Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Diplomatic Security at the U.S. Department of State, and now Global CSO at Verkada. He has led security for the world’s governments, global organisations and household name celebrities for over 40 years.

Michael Evanoff | https://www.musee-lalique.com/en/

22nd July 2026