Thieves Steal Four Renoir Masterpieces from French Museum, Two Remain Missing

Thieves steal four Renoir paintings from a French museum, leaving two missing. Authorities launch national search.

September 9, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Cagnes-sur-Mer, France — Two thieves breached a museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer on the French Riviera, stealing four valuable Renoir paintings in less than three minutes before fleeing and abandoning two of the artworks, according to local authorities.

The break-in occurred at the Renoir Museum, which is housed in the final home of the famed painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The museum, located between Cannes and Nice, is a major cultural attraction in the region. The stolen pieces include two that remain unaccounted for, while the other two were found discarded in the garden.

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The incident has raised concerns about security at cultural institutions across France, especially after a similar high-profile theft at the Louvre last year. Art experts warn that the stolen works—valued at an estimated 9 million euros ($10.5 million)—will be extremely difficult to sell due to their notoriety and historical significance. A national investigation is underway, with officials from the Marseille prosecutor’s office and the French national office for traffic in cultural goods involved.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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