HIBAPRESS – Agencies
Two thieves broke into the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer on the French Riviera in the early hours of Tuesday morning, managing to steal three paintings after they fled with four artworks, before one of them fell during a police chase, an incident that refocuses attention on the rise of museum and art theft crimes in Europe.
Brian Mason, the mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer, where the Renoir Museum is located on the French Riviera, said in a statement on Facebook that two thieves stole three paintings from the museum early Tuesday. He added that the two thieves broke into the museum shortly before 6 a.m. and stole four paintings. He stated that the police spotted them and chased them, but they managed to escape with three paintings. He continued that they dropped one of the paintings during the chase. Mason said in the statement, "Targeting the Renoir Museum is targeting a part of the history and heritage of Cagnes-sur-Mer. These actions are extremely serious."
