PARIS (AP) — Authorities announced Friday that two Renoir paintings stolen from a museum in southern France last month have been recovered and six suspects arrested.
Bryan Masson, the mayor of the town where the Renoir Museum is located, commended investigators for their swift action in recovering the artwork, though details on how the paintings and suspects were located remain undisclosed.
The two stolen paintings, “Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano” and “Young Woman at the Well,” were part of a heist where thieves cut through a fence, entered through a window, and initially took four valuable Renoirs. However, they left two behind during their escape.
The theft, which took place in under three minutes, targeted the museum’s most valuable artworks. This incident has raised concerns, echoing memories of the previous year’s high-profile jewel heist at the Louvre Museum and prompting discussions on enhancing security and funding for cultural sites across France.
A news conference is scheduled for later Friday to provide further updates.
