The National Palace Museum has launched a comprehensive review of its security measures after a high-profile theft of jewelry from the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday.
The seven-minute heist involved a portable electric ladder mounted on a truck, before thieves used grinders to break a window and enter the museum, smashing display cases and stealing jewelry, the New York Times reported.
The National Palace Museum yesterday said it would conduct simulated intrusion drills based on the Louvre case to test the effectiveness of its security systems against nontraditional entry methods, such as lifting equipment, construction passages and exterior walls.
Photo: CNA
It would further increase the frequency of patrols and night inspections, and test display cases to ensure that blast-resistant glass, locks and alarm systems are in working order and upgraded where necessary, it said.
Moreover, it would require all maintenance work to be reported in advance with identity verification for all personnel involved, it added.
It would continue to work with police to bolster interagency cooperation and enhance real-time monitoring of suspicious people and vehicles, the museum said.
The monitoring center maintains direct, real-time communication with local police to ensure any unusual activity can be reported and addressed immediately, it said.
The museum also holds regular security training and anti-theft drills for stationed police officers and administrative staff to improve emergency response capabilities, it added.
All entrances, exits and surrounding areas are equipped with surveillance cameras, lights and fences, while security staffing and patrol routes are adjusted according to risk level to ensure around-the-clock and complete-coverage monitoring, it said.
In addition, all outsourced personnel and construction workers undergo reviews and identity registration, and are accompanied by museum staff throughout their work, it said.
Exhibition spaces also undergo daily safety checks of display cases, seals, alarms and surveillance equipment, the museum added.
The museum said it is “deeply alarmed” by the incident in Paris and would continue upgrading its security technology and training to ensure the safety of its collections and visitors.
LOUD AND PROUD Taiwan might have taken a drubbing against Australia and Japan, but you might not know it from the enthusiasm and numbers of the fans Taiwan might not be expected to win the World Baseball Classic (WBC) but their fans are making their presence felt in Tokyo, with tens of thousands decked out in the team’s blue, blowing horns and singing songs. Taiwanese fans have packed out the Tokyo Dome for all three of their games so far and even threatened to drown out home team supporters when their team played Japan on Friday. They blew trumpets, chanted for their favorite players and had their own cheerleading squad who dance on a stage during the game. The team struggled to match that exuberance on the field, with
UPDATED TEST: The new rules aim to assess drivers’ awareness of risky behaviors and how they respond under certain circumstances, the Highway Bureau said Driver’s license applicants who fail to yield to pedestrians at intersections or to check blind spots, or omit pointing-and-calling procedures would fail the driving test, the Highway Bureau said yesterday. The change is set to be implemented at the end of the month, and is part of the bureau’s reform of the driving portion of the test, which has been criticized for failing to assess whether drivers can operate vehicles safely. Sedan drivers would be tested regarding yielding to pedestrians and turning their heads to check blind spots, while drivers of large vehicles would be tested on their familiarity with pointing-and-calling
Whether Japan would help defend Taiwan in case of a cross-strait conflict would depend on the US and the extent to which Japan would be allowed to act under the US-Japan Security Treaty, former Japanese minister of defense Satoshi Morimoto said. As China has not given up on the idea of invading Taiwan by force, to what extent Japan could support US military action would hinge on Washington’s intention and its negotiation with Tokyo, Morimoto said in an interview with the Liberty Times (sister paper of the Taipei Times) yesterday. There has to be sufficient mutual recognition of how Japan could provide
A Taiwanese man apologized on Friday after saying in a social media post that he worked with Australia to provide scouting reports on Taiwan’s team, enabling Australia’s victory in this year’s World Baseball Classic (WBC), saying it was a joke and that he did not hold any position with foreign teams or Taiwan’s sports training center. Chen Po-hao (陳柏豪) drew the rage of many Taiwan baseball fans when he posted online on Thursday night, claiming credit for Australia’s 3-0 win over Taiwan in the opening game for Pool C, saying he worked as a physical therapist with the national team and
RSS