Two Renoir paintings stolen in France recovered - mayor

Two paintings by renowned French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir have been recovered after being stolen from a museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, southern France. Mayor Bryan Masson expressed his relief, stating that these particular works are an integral part of the city's history. The thieves broke into the museum through a fence, smashed a window, and swiftly cut through the frame mountings with an electric saw.

The heist occurred in just a few minutes, around 6am on September 8th. The stolen pieces were a portrait of Madame Colonna Romano and a depiction of a woman at a well, titled Jeune femme au puits. The missing paintings were replaced by Madame Pichon and a portrait of Renoir's son Claude reading. Police noted the burglars were well-prepared and had prior knowledge of the museum's layout.

This incident is one of several recent heists at French museums, raising concerns about security measures.