Four Renoir Paintings Stolen from Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer; Two Recovered

Thieves broke into the Renoir Museum on the French Riviera and stole four paintings, but abandoned two of them as police arrived. The investigation is ongoing to recover the remaining artworks. Next photo A police car is parked in front of the Renoir Museum after thieves stole four valuable Renoir paintings, in Cagnes-sur-Mer, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. The entrance of the Renoir Museum is pictured after thieves stole four valuable Renoir paintings, in Cagnes-sur-Mer, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. The entrance of the Renoir Museum where thieves stole four valuable Renoir paintings, in Cagnes-sur-Mer, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. A barrier tape is set on the fence of the Renoir Museum after thieves stole four valuable Renoir paintings, in Cagnes-sur-Mer, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. A police car is parked in front of the Renoir Museum after thieves stole four valuable Renoir paintings, in Cagnes-sur-Mer, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. on Tuesday from a small museum on the French Riviera, but abandoned two of them as they fled, the local mayor said. Police are searching for the perpetrators. A group of 'well-equipped' and 'well-informed' thieves entered the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer via the garden, the town's mayor, Bryan Masson, told reporters at the scene. They sliced through a fence with an electric knife or saw, entered the museum through the ground floor, and then cut the clips securing the artwork frames, Masson said in remarks carried by local broadcaster Ici Azur. The museum's alarm system went off at 5:48 a.m. local time, and police arrived five minutes later, the mayor said. Their swift arrival 'forced the burglars to flee in haste and helped limit the scale of the theft,' the mayor said in a written statement sent to The Associated Press. Two of the stolen works were found in the museum garden, but the statement said that two others are still missing: 'Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano' and 'Young Woman at the Well. ' Authorities haven't provided the names of the other two paintings. An official with the regional police administration confirmed the theft to the AP and the hunt for suspects, and said that an investigation was underway. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person wasn't authorized to be publicly named according to police policy, couldn't confirm the value of the paintings. The museum had 12 works by Renoir in total, the mayor said. The museum was closed Tuesday while the investigation unfolded. 'This incident should serve as a warning about the protection of our museums, which now face a new form of organized crime targeting works of art,' his statement said. Art theft expert James Ratcliffe of the Art Loss Register told the AP that thieves are increasingly targeting valuable artifacts, including traditional art. 'Sadly, without further funding to improve museum security, we are likely to see an increase in the number of museum thefts ... Each time thefts occur, it draws yet more attention to the perception of these museums as relatively easy targets. That can only encourage some criminals to consider them as straightforward places to steal from. 'at the Louvre Museum in Paris last year. The Renoir Museum is housed in the last home of painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, where he lived before his death in 1919. It's the most famous attraction in Cagnes-sur-Mer, situated between Cannes and Nice on the Mediterranean coast. Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. DTU fights to keep union certification before Tuesday deadlineSt. Johns County investigating after AI-generated 'Cat in the Hat' posts spark school safety warningLabor Day at Jacksonville Beach: Sun, fish, and safety remindersBought a home in 2023? New analysis finds it was Florida's worst year to buy since 2007Jacksonville labor leaders speak about issues facing workers, future of organized laborOfficials warn of lightning, rip currents for Labor Day beachgoersDuval County voters to decide fate of $8,600 teacher bonus in NovemberMistrial declared in Lindsay Clancy child killings case after jury deadlocksFunnel cloud spotted near Fort Caroline in Duval CountyJacksonville man arrested in drug bustOff-duty SJC firefighter honored by commissioner, department for saving family from sinking carEconomics professor says beef prices are rising faster than inflationAsia Bennett's family questions officer's account, demands unedited video of fatal JSO shootingSheriff addresses Flock camera concerns, asks for $3.9 million budget boost for deputiesFamily, advocates hold candlelight vigil for Asia Bennett after JSO shootingDuval schools face continued HVAC concerns as Westside High students report hot classroomsSt. Johns County removing LPRs from state roads, but county road cameras fate unclearNew mural celebrating LGBTQ+ history unveiled in Jacksonville's 5 Points neighborhoodPrevious video