Police probe €80 million art theft from Sicilian museum
Italian authorities launch investigation after three works valued at up to €80 million were stolen from a museum in Messina, days after the recovery of other significant artworks.
Italian police have opened an investigation following the theft of three artworks by the Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina from a museum in Messina, Sicily. The stolen pieces, which include three panels from the Polittico di San Gregorio and a fourth work, are valued at up to €80 million.
The incident marks a significant loss of cultural heritage in the artist’s hometown, prompting an official inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the removal of the pieces. Authorities are currently assessing the security protocols at the facility to determine how the theft occurred.
The theft comes shortly after Italian authorities announced the recovery of three other stolen works by prominent artists Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Henri Matisse. The proximity of these two events has drawn attention to the broader context of art theft investigations across Italy.
France 24 International reported the details of the heist, noting the substantial estimated value of the missing Renaissance works. The specific identity of the museum has not been disclosed in initial reports, though the location is confirmed as Messina.
Police are treating the matter as a serious criminal investigation. No arrests have been reported, and officials have not yet confirmed whether the stolen works have been recovered or if they are part of a larger organised crime network.
