Cagnes-sur-Mer, France: At least five people have been arrested in connection with the theft of two paintings by renowned artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir from the Renoir Museum, according to local media reports. The two suspected burglars are reportedly among those detained, although some French outlets have put the number of arrests at six.
The theft took place at dawn on September 8, when suspects reportedly cut through a fence, smashed a museum window and used an electric saw to remove artworks from their frames. Two paintings, Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano (1910) and Jeune fille au puits (1886), remain missing, while two other works were abandoned during the escape.
Nice-Matin reported that the suspects may be linked to an organised criminal gang. Local prosecutors have not confirmed the arrests.
The museum, which opened in 1960, was Renoir’s final home and now houses 12 of his works, along with personal belongings including his easel, wheelchair, photographs and letters.
The incident adds to a series of major European art thefts, including a three-minute museum heist in Italy in August and last year’s €88 million crown-jewel robbery at the Louvre in Paris.
