PARIS (AP) — On Tuesday, a freight lift ascended on its crane towards the Louvre Museum, but this time it was not for the purpose of a heist. Instead, it was maintenance workers who were installing security bars on the window that had been used to break into the museum's Apollo Gallery during a highly publicized theft in October. The incident underscored the Louvre Museum’s ongoing struggle with security shortcomings, as investigators continue to search for the missing crown jewels valued at an astonishing $102 million.

The Louvre, known as the world's most-visited museum, was closed to the public on the day of this security enhancement. Maintenance workers donned protective helmets and high-visibility vests as they operated a freight lift to reach a second-floor balcony. There, they secured new metal bars over a window that has become infamous since the brazen October robbery.

This security operation echoed the actions of a group of thieves who, on October 19, 2023, had posed as maintenance workers to gain access to the gallery. Using a similar lift, the gang sliced through the window and seized numerous valuable items, including tiaras, emerald earrings, and a sapphire necklace. Remarkably, within eight minutes, the thieves had completed their mission and vanished.

All four suspected individuals involved in the theft have since been apprehended and charged, but the valuable jewels remain missing, adding to the mystery surrounding the heist. Samuel Lasnel, who represents the maintenance lift company Grima-Nacelles, stated that his team arrived before dawn on Tuesday to conduct this crucial window-securing operation. He noted their familiarity with the Louvre, having worked on various projects both inside and outside the iconic museum multiple times.

Despite the high-profile nature of the repairs and the recent theft, the Louvre management has not publicly commented on the security operation that took place on Tuesday. As investigators probe deeper into the criminal activities that exposed the museum’s vulnerabilities, the Louvre's reputation and security measures are under increasing scrutiny.