Four paintings worth £8million stolen from Renoir Museum in France after thieves ‘cut pictures out of frames’

FOUR works of art worth some £8million have been stolen from a Renoir museum in the south of France. Thieves were filmed breaking into the building in Cagnes-sur-Mer, near Nice, on Tuesday morning. Police at Musee Renoir, where thieves have stolen four works of art Credit: AFP The value of the stolen art is estimated at £7.7million Credit: Getty The individuals were allegedly caught on camera cutting paintings from their frames, to more easily get them out of the museum. But the bungling burglars dropped one of the artworks as they fled, according to mayor Bryan Masson. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Bryan Masson said: “Spotted thanks to the town’s video surveillance cameras, the two individuals fled, abandoning one of the stolen paintings as they ran.” His office estimated the value of the stolen art at 9million euros (£7.7million). “Two hooded individuals were recorded on CCTV”, according to an investigating source. At least four paintings were taken, but one was recovered after it was found abandoned nearby afterwards. Masson added: “The museum alarm went off at 5:48 am. At 5:53 am, just five minutes later, our municipal police were on the scene.” “Since this morning, both the municipal and national police have been deployed to the site. Most read in The Sun “The perpetrators are being actively sought, and the investigation is ongoing. “Attacking the Renoir Museum is attacking a part of the history and heritage of Cagnes-Sur-Mer. These events are particularly serious.” Popular Renoir works displayed in the Cagnes museum include La Ferme des Collettes, The Farm at Les Collettes in English. The oil on canvas piece was completed in 1915 and depicts the home Renoir moved to in 1908, which now houses the Renoir Museum. The painting is displayed in what was once Renoir’s bedroom. It comes less than a year after thieves broke into the Louvre Museum in Paris in broad daylight, lifting £76 million worth of jewellery stolen in just four minutes. Renoir’s full name was Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Born in Limoges in France in 1841, became one of the world’s greatest ever painters. Many of his greatest works are held in England, including at the National Gallery in London. His Dans les roses (In the Roses) was sold by Sotheby’s in May 2003 for $23million, while Les Deux Souers (The Two Sisters) went for almost $7million in 2007. More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us on TikTok @TheSun. Comment now