Italian police have confirmed that four thieves stole paintings by Cézanne, Matisse and Renoir from a museum near Parma a week ago. The artworks are worth millions and the thieves managed the smash-and-grab in under three minutes.
An Italian museum has been the victim of a theft that bears similarities with the high-profile robbery that rocked the Louvre museum in Paris last October.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Thieves stole several paintings worth millions of euros from the Magnani Rocca Foundation museum in Mamiano di Traversetolo, near the city of Parma in northern Italy.
The heist took place in under three minutes on the night of 22-23 March, police confirmed on Sunday.
Local media reported that the thieves were able to force a door open, before stealing the paintings and escaping across the museum gardens.
According to reports from the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of the Carabinieri police, they stole "Fish" by Auguste Renoir, "Still Life with Cherries" by Paul Cézanne, and "Odalisque on the Terrace" by Henri Matisse.
Italian news agency ANSA posted pictures of the stolen works on X:
The police have stated that they believe a "structured and organized" gang is responsible for the theft.
The museum’s video-surveillance footage, as well as that of neighbouring businesses, is currently being examined.
Last October, thieves broke into the Louvre in Paris and made off with €88 million in jewels. They escaped in less than eight minutes with the treasures.
