Police swooped on Renoir theft suspects fearing second museum heist, prosecutor says

French police moved swiftly to arrest suspects linked to the theft of two paintings by renowned Impressionist artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir after one of the alleged thieves visited another museum, raising concerns about a possible second robbery, Marseille prosecutor Nicolas Bessone said on Monday.

Police arrested six suspects earlier this month, with four subsequently charged. The two men suspected of carrying out the theft face charges of organised theft and other offences.

A third suspect, accused of concealing the stolen paintings, has been charged with organised handling of stolen goods. A fourth man, whom investigators say was approached about purchasing the artworks, faces charges of handling stolen goods and participating in a criminal conspiracy.

Paintings valued at more than €4 million

The stolen paintings, Madame Colonna Romano and Young Woman at the Well, were valued at approximately €4.2 million ($4.7 million), according to Bessone.

The artworks were taken on September 8 from the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, along the French Riviera. Investigators believe the thieves gained access to the museum grounds through a hole cut into a garden fence before entering the building through a window.

The paintings were later discovered concealed behind a false wall in a house. However, both sustained damage and will require restoration. Madame Colonna Romano was reportedly torn.

Their recovery came almost exactly one month after the theft, following an investigation that relied on DNA evidence, mobile phone location data and surveillance footage.

Bessone said the suspects had denied planning another museum robbery. However, he expressed doubt about the motives of the principal suspect, saying he did not believe the man had visited the other museum simply because of his interest in art.

Investigators also believe the thieves attempted to steal two additional Renoir paintings, Madame Pichon and Coco Reading, which depicts the artist’s young son, Claude. The suspects abandoned the two works in the museum gardens as they fled from police officers who arrived at the scene.