Thieves steal Renoir paintings from French Riviera museum, police on hunt
AP News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Four Renoir paintings were stolen from the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, but two were abandoned and recovered in the museum garden as thieves fled.
- The thieves, described as well-equipped and well-informed, entered by cutting through a fence and disabling artwork frame clips, but were forced to flee quickly due to the museum's alarm and rapid police response.
- Two paintings, "Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano" and "Young Woman at the Well," remain missing, and police have launched an investigation to find the suspects.
- The museum, housing 12 Renoir works and located in the painter’s former home, was closed for the investigation, and local officials called for enhanced security measures to protect cultural institutions from organized art theft.
- Experts warn that without increased funding for museum security, art thefts are likely to rise, as criminals view museums as vulnerable targets, following notable incidents like the Louvre crown jewels heist last year.
