The Louvre urged to speed up security upgrades in audit conducted before the heist

PARIS (AP) — France's court of auditors urged the Louvre museum to speed up its security modernization plans as a priority, in a report conducted before the Oct. 19 jewels heist that noted major delays in the renovation of the world’s most-visited museum.

Thursday’s report by the Cour des Comptes comes after a series of failings and security issues came to light following the robbery of the $102-million worth Crown Jewels that shocked the world. The thieves used a truck-mounted basket lift to reach a window of the Apollo Gallery and fled with the trove within minutes.

The report, focusing on the 2018-2024 period, said the museum's investments prioritized “visible and attractive operations” like buying new pieces of art and improving visitor experience. That was “at the expense of the m