In brief
Four masked men executed a quick heist at the Magnani Rocca Foundation in Italy, stealing masterpieces worth €9 million. The stolen works include paintings by renowned artists Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse. The whole theft took only three minutes, with the thieves escaping before authorities could intervene.
Valuable paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, and Henri Matisse were stolen in an audacious heist near Parma, Italy. On March 22, four masked men broke into the Magnani Rocca Foundation and managed to leave with 'Les Poissons' by Renoir, 'Still Life with Cherries' by Cézanne, and 'Odalisque on the Terrace' by Matisse—all within three minutes! The thieves were only thwarted by the museum's alarm system, which triggered a police response.These masterpieces' combined worth is estimated at around €9 million, with 'Les Poissons' alone valued at €6 million. The art heist has raised alarms as it marks another significant theft in Italy, following a high-profile robbery at the Louvre in Paris last year.The gang of thieves entered through the main door, snatched the paintings from the French Room, and escaped by climbing over a fence, showcasing their planning and execution skills. This incident has prompted an investigation by Italy's Carabinieri and the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of Bologna.The Magnani Rocca Foundation, established in 1984, houses an impressive collection of art, and this robbery highlights the ongoing challenges institutions face in securing valuable cultural heritage.
