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At least five arrested in France over Renoir museum theft
Overview
At least five people, including two suspected burglars, have been arrested in France following the theft of two paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir from the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer. The stolen works, Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano (1910) and Jeune fille au puits (1886), remain missing, while two other works were abandoned during the break-in.
Key points
- At least five individuals, potentially up to six, have been arrested in connection with the Renoir Museum heist.
- The suspects allegedly cut through a fence, smashed a window, and used an electric saw to remove the paintings at dawn on 8 September.
- Two missing artworks, Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano and Jeune fille au puits, have not yet been recovered.
- Two additional stolen works were abandoned by the thieves while fleeing the scene.
- Local prosecutors have declined to confirm the arrests.