Three famous paintings by Cézanne, Renoir, and Matisse, stolen from an Italian museum, recovered by police. Nine Moldovans investigated.

Italian police have successfully recovered three renowned paintings by Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Henri Matisse. These masterpieces were stolen in March from the Villa Fondazione Magnani Rocca, a private museum near Parma, in a heist that took the thieves less than three minutes to execute. The recovery marks a significant success for law enforcement in tracking down the valuable artworks.

As part of the investigation, nine citizens of the Republic of Moldova are currently under judicial scrutiny in Italy. Five of these individuals have been detained in connection with the theft. The recovered artworks include Cézanne's "Tasse et plat de cerises" (Cup and Saucer with Cherries), valued at approximately 6.06 million euros; Renoir's "Les Poissons" (The Fish), valued at 3.03 million euros; and Matisse's "Odalisque sur la terrasse" (Odalisque on the Terrace), valued at around 19,900 euros. The total value of the recovered pieces exceeds nine million euros.

Authorities discovered the paintings in an apartment in Parma during searches ordered by prosecutors. The operation involved specialized units of the Italian Carabinieri focused on protecting cultural heritage. Investigators believe the suspects may be part of an organized crime group implicated in numerous thefts from residences, commercial spaces, and other properties across Europe. During the searches, police also recovered other stolen goods worth tens of thousands of euros.

Video footage released by the police shows two masked thieves entering through a window, removing the three paintings from the wall, and exiting the building swiftly. The Fondazione Magnani Rocca noted that the thieves' quick escape was facilitated by the immediate activation of alarm systems and the prompt response from internal security, the Carabinieri, and a private security firm. The investigation into the theft and the broader criminal network is ongoing.