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Masked Gang Steals Renoir, Matisse Masterpieces in 3 Minutes
29 Mar
Summary
- Four masked individuals stole art valued at €9m from Magnani Rocca Foundation.
- The stolen artworks include pieces by Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse.
- The thieves completed the heist in just three minutes before alarms sounded.

A daring art heist occurred on March 22 at the Magnani Rocca Foundation near Parma, Italy, with thieves making off with valuable paintings. Four masked individuals targeted the villa, stealing artworks by renowned artists Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, and Henri Matisse. The entire operation was executed in an astonishing three minutes.
Italian media reported that the alarm system was the only factor preventing the criminals from stealing more art. The stolen pieces, including Renoir's 'Les Poissons' valued at €6m, have a combined estimated worth of €9m, making this one of Italy's most significant art thefts in recent memory.
The foundation described the gang as "structured and organised." The thieves gained entry through the main door of the Villa dei Capolavori and escaped by scaling a fence. Italy's Carabinieri and the Cultural Heritage Protection Unit of Bologna are currently investigating the incident, which was publicly disclosed on Sunday.