Four masterpieces by 19th‑century French painter Pierre‑Auguste Renoir have been stolen from the Musée Renoir in Cagnes‑sur‑Mer.
The break‑in took place on Tuesday morning, 8 September 2026. Two thieves entered the museum by cutting through the fence, then broke the restraints that held the frames in place. They escaped as the alarm rang at 05:48 local time.
Each painting was valued at approximately 9 million euros (roughly 7.7 million pounds or $10.4 million). While the gang dropped two works into the garden during their escape, those pieces were later recovered: Portrait of Madame Pichon (1895) and Coco Lisant (1905).
Two paintings remain missing: Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano (1910) and Jeune fille au puits (1886). The mayor described the theft as "attacking a part of the history and heritage of Cagnes‑sur‑Mer."
Police arrived within five minutes, finding the thieves poorly equipped with helmets, gloves and combat gear, and armed with an electric knife and a hacksaw. Two zip‑up bags were also recovered from the scene and believed to belong to the suspects.
The museum, which houses 12 works by Renoir and personal artefacts such as the painter’s easel and wheelchair, stresses the need for stronger safeguards. The mayor is urging the French government to increase financial support for local museums confronting "increasingly organised and determined criminals".
