Security Increased At Cannes Film Festival After Multi-Million Dollar Robberies In 2013

French officials have increased security at the Cannes Film Festival, hoping to prevent another year of massive heists and increased crime rates.

At last year’s Cannes Film Festival, robbers stole over $136 million worth of jewels and diamonds from the Carlton Hotel, following million dollar heists at the Hotel du Cap and Novotel, and there were reports of muggings and other crime throughout the festival. According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, of the 178 robberies that took place at Cannes in 2013, a large number occurred during the Cannes Film Festival, which spans only two weeks.

“If you think about it, the festival is a dream come true for criminals. You’ve got all these people coming in jet-lagged, spending 10 days working 14-hour days and getting drunk and sloppy at night. The opportunities [for crime] are everywhere,” said a Cannes publicist.

Stories of burglars breaking into the hotel rooms or rented apartments of visiting actors, producers, film executives, abound. Last year, Zhang Qiang, vice president of the China Film Group, missed the press conference for his film with Keanu Reeves, Man of Tai Chi, because thieves had cleaned out his rented apartment, even taking his passport.

Local criminal prosecutor George Gutierrez told The Hollywood Reporter that people will stakeout hotels and rented apartments during the Cannes Film Festival:

“They are looking for high-value targets – most of the time it is big shops and big houses. They’re not looking to mug someone on the street. But they are waiting and watching. They’ve got lookouts watching the hotels, who is coming in and out of the big villas. They know, for example, which hotel rooms will be vacant during the festival ceremonies… then they take action.”

The headline grabbing crime spree at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival inspired the creation of a Cannes security committee. The committee has significantly upped the festival’s security measures, adding hundreds of police on the ground. Three hundred-fifty national police will be patrolling the surrounding area of the Cannes Film Festival and the Croisette, alongside 200 cops and 400 private security guards dispersed throughout Cannes. In addition to the manpower, the committee has ensured the upgrade of alarm systems, the training of local employees, especially hotel staff, and video coverage of the Croisette, the main street in Cannes.

– Olivia Truffaut-Wong

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