Louvre director Laurence des Cars says the French culture minister refused her offer to resign. Photo: AP PHOTO

The Louvre's ageing security camera system failed to detect thieves in time to prevent their audacious heist, the museum's director says as the museum reopened to visitors.

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On Sunday, the thieves broke into the world-famous Paris museum using a crane to smash an upstairs window, then stole French crown jewels worth an estimated 88 million euros ($A157 million) before escaping on motorbikes.

"Despite our efforts, despite our hard work every day, we were defeated," Laurence

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