Thieves broke into a museum in southern France and stole works by impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir valued at 9 million euros. The criminals' operation occurred during the night, when the museum was closed to the public.
The names of the stolen works were not revealed by authorities, who chose not to disclose specific details about the pieces in order not to compromise the ongoing investigations.
The thieves were pursued by police during their flight. According to the regional mayor, the criminals left behind a fourth Renoir work during the chase, suggesting they may have been forced to abandon part of the loot in order to escape the authorities.
Investigations continue to locate the stolen works and identify those responsible for the museum heist. The significant value of the stolen pieces highlights the importance of museums as targets for organized crime.
