World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Six stolen Picasso prints recovered near Cannes; seven people arrested
Two masked men stole six Picasso prints from a restaurant in Mougins, near Cannes, on October 1.
The prints, which regularly hung at L’Amandier, were taken in less than a minute while a third person acted as a lookout.
On November 3, about 40 French gendarmes searched two apartments and found the prints intact beneath clothes and toolboxes in one bedroom.
Seven people were arrested, including three suspected burglars and four alleged accomplices; all were aged 18 to 30, according to one account.
Investigators said they moved quickly because stolen artworks can be resold and disappear from the art market.
The recovery drew attention amid wider concern about thefts of cultural objects in France and elsewhere in Europe.
The restaurant’s owner said the security arrangements may need to be reconsidered.
Six Picasso prints stolen from the L’Amandier restaurant in Mougins were recovered intact in an apartment on November 3.
Seven people were arrested after about 40 gendarmes searched two apartments on the French Riviera.
The prints were found in a bedroom, behind clothes and toolboxes.
Two masked and gloved men stole the works around 2 a.m. on October 1, while a third person acted as a lookout.
The theft was investigated by the Cannes gendarmerie after the Grasse prosecutor’s office opened an investigation.
- Who
- Seven people were arrested. Investigators said three were suspected burglars and four were accomplices.
- What
- Six stolen Picasso prints were recovered intact.
- When
- The prints were stolen on October 1 and recovered on November 3.
- Where
- The prints were stolen from L’Amandier in Mougins and found in an apartment on the French Riviera.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Two masked and gloved men entered L’Amandier and stole six Picasso prints, while a third person acted as a lookout.
The restaurant’s owner discovered the prints were missing, and the Grasse prosecutor’s office opened an investigation.
About 40 gendarmes searched two apartments and found the prints intact.
Seven people were arrested.
- Works recovered
- Six Picasso prints
- Restaurant
- L’Amandier, Mougins
- Theft date
- October 1
- Recovery date
- November 3
- Search operation
- About 40 gendarmes searched two apartments
- Arrests
- Seven people: three suspected burglars and four accomplices
2 sources
What people are saying
We had to act quickly: Works like these carry a high risk of being resold and never returning to the art market.
Works like these carry a high risk of being resold and never returning to the art market.
We are delighted to be able to recover them; I thought they might have already left the country.
We may have to rethink the security arrangements.