Two thieves broke into the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer on the French Riviera early Tuesday. According to the town's mayor, Bryan Masson, the burglars stole four works of art, though they dropped one of the paintings as they fled.
The value of the stolen works is estimated at 9 million euros. While early reports indicated only one painting was abandoned during the getaway, it was later reported that two of the works were recovered in the museum garden, meaning two paintings remain missing.
Police are currently hunting for the two suspects, who were identified through the town's video surveillance cameras. An official with the regional police administration confirmed that an investigation into the heist is underway.
The Renoir Museum is the most famous attraction in Cagnes-sur-Mer, located between Cannes and Nice, and is housed in the final home of painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir before his death in 1919. This incident follows a wave of museum thefts in France, including the heist of crown jewels at the Louvre last year, and contributes to a string of high-profile art thefts in Europe that have put gallery security in the spotlight.