French authorities faced widespread criticism following the audacious daylight robbery at the Louvre , the world’s most famous museum and home to the Mona Lisa. Security lapses were blamed for the $102 million heist. Now, it has emerged that a remarkably simple password for the museum’s video surveillance system made it all the easier for the Ocean’s 11-style thieves to decamp with French crown jewels.

A museum employee told ABC News that the password was simply "Louvre". The startling revelation came amid growing anger directed at museum officials over major security lapses.

The extraordinary heist, which took place on October 19 in under seven minutes, forced the closure of the Louvre in Paris, the world's most-visited museum. Eight items of jewellery had been stolen from the Apollo

See Full Page