French authorities are hunting for two individuals who staged a break-in at the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer on the French Riviera, stealing three artworks in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Mayor Bryan Masson confirmed that the culprits were identified via municipal video surveillance before they dropped one of the stolen pieces as they made their escape.
The alarm at the museum was triggered at 5:48 a.m., prompting a rapid police response. Officers arrived at the scene within five minutes, but the thieves had already fled with the remaining works. While officials have not disclosed the specific titles or artists of the stolen pieces, French media outlets report that the total value of the artwork is estimated at 9 million euros, or approximately $10.5 million. It remains unclear whether that figure applies to all four items initially taken or only the three successfully removed from the building.
Masson expressed outrage over the theft, describing the attack as a direct assault on the cultural heritage of Cagnes-sur-Mer. “These events are particularly serious,” the mayor said in a statement posted on Facebook. He emphasized that the incident underscores the urgent need to fully implement a comprehensive security plan for local museums, pledging to dedicate all necessary resources to protect the city’s artistic legacy.
Both municipal and national police forces have been deployed to the area as the investigation continues. A photograph released by authorities showed an officer standing guard outside the museum entrance following the theft.
Do we know if the dropped painting was damaged? That recovery detail is crucial for insurance purposes.
Nine million euros? These criminals are motivated purely by greed, not any love for art. Disgraceful.
Unbelievable that they dropped one piece. Talk about leaving a trail right in front of the cameras!