Paintings worth $10 million that were stolen in 3-minute heist are recovered
The recovered works are valued at more than $10 million.
Three significant paintings by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse that were stolen in a swift three-minute heist were recently recovered by Italian police. The Italian Carabinieri's art recovery squad announced on Friday that the artworks were found during searches ordered by prosecutors in the Parma province and surrounding areas. Five suspects were apprehended, believed to be part of an organized crime group responsible for various thefts.
In addition to the recovered paintings, police seized stolen items worth tens of thousands of euros.
The recovered pieces include Paul Cézanne's "Tasse et Plat de Cerises" (Cup and Plate of Cherries), Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Les Poissons" (The Fish), and Henri Matisse's "Odalisque sur la Terrasse" (Odalisque on the Terrace). Art experts have valued the three paintings collectively at over $10 million. The theft occurred at the Magnani Rocca Foundation, a private museum situated approximately 12 miles from Parma, on the night of March 22-23. The burglars forced open the entrance door and swiftly stole the three paintings without a chase.
During the investigation, police recovered crucial evidence, including a pickaxe and a fire extinguisher with tampered serial numbers. Forensic officers managed to reconstruct the serial numbers, linking them to an apartment building frequented by one of the alleged gang members. The suspects, all born in Moldova and residing in the Parma area, are suspected to be part of a criminal network involved in multiple thefts of properties.
The Magnani Rocca Foundation, established in 1977, houses the collection of art historian Luigi Magnani, featuring works by renowned artists such as Dürer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya, and Monet. The heist comes after a series of high-profile museum thefts across Europe, including the Louvre's theft of French crown jewels and other items. Notably, Matisse's "Odalisque sur la Terrasse" was also recovered recently from a library in São Paulo, Brazil.
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