2 paintings by Renoir stolen from museum in France, officials say

Authorities in France are seeking two thieves who broke into a museum with paintings by famed French impressionist Auguste Renoir, among other works, and stole “four works of art” early on Tuesday but dropped one as they got away, the local mayor said.

“Spotted thanks to the town’s video surveillance cameras, the two individuals fled, abandoning one of the stolen paintings as they ran,” said Bryan Masson, mayor of the French Riviera town of Cagnes-sur-Mer. 

He didn’t say which works of art were swiped.

French media put the value of the stolen items at an estimated 9 million euros ($10.5 million), according to CBS News partner network BBC News, but it wasn’t clear whether that included all four items initially taken or the three the thieves wound up with.

In a statement on his Facebook page, Masson said the museum’s alarm was set off at 5:48 a.m. and police were on the scene five minutes later.

“Since this morning, both the municipal and national police have been deployed to the site,” he continued. “The perpetrators are being actively sought, and the investigation is ongoing.”

Masson said “Attacking the Renoir Museum is attacking a part of the history and heritage of #CagnesSurMer. These events are particularly serious.

“They also confirm the urgent need to implement the comprehensive plan to secure our museums and protect our works of art, a plan to which I have committed. We will dedicate all necessary resources to better protect this heritage, which belongs to all the residents of Cagnes.”