GENEVA

Paris Police Chief Patrice Faure has acknowledged serious security lapses at the Louvre Museum following the recent theft of crown jewels, according to media reports on Wednesday.

Speaking during a Senate hearing, Faure said, "The security of the Louvre Museum is not in order," citing outdated surveillance systems and delayed renovation work as key weaknesses, NOS reported.

A group of thieves broke into the Apollo Gallery last week, forcing open a window and stealing eight pieces of French crown jewels within minutes.

"No step has been taken on the technological front," Faure said, adding that parts of the video network are outdated and produce low-quality images that are hard to share in real time. He said the renovation project, costing about €80 million (over $93 million), would not be completed before 2030.

Faure also revealed that the museum's permit to operate its security cameras expired in July and was never renewed. The first alert about the robbery did not even come from the Louvre’s alarm system but from "a cyclist (who) called 911 after seeing men wearing helmets in a construction elevator outside."

Rejecting the idea of a permanent police post inside the museum, Faure said: "I'm vehemently against it. The problem isn't a security guard at a door. It's speeding up the alarm chain."

The Louvre's director has offered her resignation, which the culture minister has refused. The stolen jewels, valued at around €88 million, were not insured.