Authorities have recovered two stolen Renoir paintings and arrested six suspects following a museum heist in Cagnes-sur-Mer last month.

Two paintings by Auguste Renoir that were stolen from the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, have been recovered. Local authorities confirmed the recovery and the arrest of six individuals in connection with the September 8 heist. The museum, which served as the artist's final home, had initially reported four works taken, two of which were abandoned by the thieves during their escape.

Details of the Museum Heist

The theft occurred at dawn on September 8 when a group of individuals broke into the museum by cutting through a perimeter fence and smashing a ground-floor window. According to Mayor Bryan Masson, the perpetrators used an electric saw to remove the frames from the artworks. The entire operation was reported to have lasted less than three minutes, targeting the most valuable pieces in the museum's collection. While four paintings were initially taken, two were left behind in the museum garden as the suspects fled from police who had been alerted by the alarm system. The two recovered works are identified as "Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano" (1910) and "Young Woman at the Well" (1886).

Investigation and Arrests

Following the theft, a national search was launched to locate the perpetrators. French authorities have now arrested six people in connection with the crime. While the town hall initially planned a press conference to discuss the recovery, it was subsequently canceled. Mayor Masson praised the investigators for their work, describing the recovered paintings as essential parts of the city's cultural heritage and the legacy of Auguste Renoir.