FOUR hooded thieves have broken into a major museum and stolen at least $10 million in artwork just five months after the shocking Louvre Museum heist.
The group of robbers burgled the Magnani-Rocca Foundation, located in a rural villa south of Parma, according to the Italian .
The robbers made off with Les Poissons (1917) by Pierre-Auguste RenoirCredit: Reuters
They also stole Odalisque on the Terrace (1922) by Henri MatisseCredit: Reuters
The third painting they made off with was Still Life with Cherries (around 1890) by Paul CézanneCredit: Reuters
They made off with paintings from famed artists Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse, leaving the private museum walls bare.
In a statement released by the carabinieri (Italian police), four hooded men broke into the museum on March 22, after smashing through a back gate on the property.
The thieves made off with three masterpieces – Les Poissons (1917) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Still Life with Cherries (around 1890) by Paul Cézanne and Odalisque on the Terrace (1922) by Henri Matisse.
Combined, the paintings have an estimated value of $10 million (£7.8 million).
Italian newspaper Il Corriere reported the men had forced entry to the foundation’s building by breaking through a locked door using a crowbar.
The Magnani-Rocca Foundation spoke to the outlet, revealing that the burglars were inside for less than three minutes before fleeing the scene after the alarm system activated.
The foursome managed to make a quick escape down a dimly lit street one minute before the police arrived.
Experts say the paintings were “too hot to handle”, warning that thieves would have a challenge trying to sell them and might seek a reward instead.
Lawyer Christopher Marinello, founder of the company Art Recovery International, said: “The criminals, who must have scoped out the building in advance, will look to cash out as quickly as possible”, The Art Newspaper reported.
“They’ve also learnt from the Louvre theft that they can get into any museum if they cover their faces and move quickly enough,” he said.
“Museums need to start thinking about the possibility of the three-minute theft.”
He said they wouldn’t be stealing the artwork for “some private underwater collection”.
“The thieves want to monetise them,” Marinello said.
He added that they would most likely the works out of as quickly as possible.
“But the more the press covers the story, the harder it’s going to be for them to sell the works because any idiot can do a search and find stories about the theft,” he said.
“The thieves think they’re going to find a buyer that isn’t going to ask any questions.”
The thieves used a crowbar to break into the private museum near ParmaCredit: Alamy
The private collection opened to the public in 1990Credit: Alamy
Also speaking on the issue was intellectual property lawyer Eloise Calder, who said: “As methods evolve and operations seem to become more targeted and sophisticated, the challenge is no longer just recovery but prevention”.
In a statement posted to , she continued: “For now though, the immediate focus is on the safe and swift return of these stolen works, something the art world will be watching closely.”
The Magnani-Rocca Foundation is one of the most significant private art collections in .
It is home to works by artists such as Dürer, Titian, Rubens, Van Dyck, and Goya.
Founded in 1977 by the collector Luigi Magnani, it opened to the public in 1990.
The foundation has been contacted for comment.
Luigi Magnani died in 1984.
In October last year, thieves in Paris in broad daylight, lifting $102 million in jewellery in less than eight minutes.
“We’re in the smash and grab period, where criminals are taking sledgehammers and forcing their way through doors,” Marinello said.
“You can break into anything in three minutes with a ski mask because the CCTV is going to capture what? Nothing.”
The Italian theft comes just five months after the shocking Louvre Museum heist in ParisCredit: Splash
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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