Thieves struck the Renoir Museum in Cagnes-sur-Mer, France, in a predawn raid, stealing four paintings valued at €9 million. Two artworks were abandoned, leaving behind a mystery. Mayor Bryan Masson lamented the theft, stating, “Attacking the Renoir Museum is an attack on a part of Cagnes-sur-Mer’s history and heritage.”

The thieves used an electric knife or a metal saw to detach the paintings from their frames, according to reports. The stolen pieces are: Portrait of Madame Pichon (1895), Portrait of Madame Colonna Romano (1910), Coco Lisant (1905), and Jeune fille au puits (1886). The New York Times reported that the thieves fled by running through the museum’s gardens.

This incident comes as small museums outside major cities face increasing targeting. Italian police recovered three stolen artworks in August, including a Renoir, from the Fondazione Magnani Rocca near Parma. In France, the Louvre faced a $102 million theft, prompting the French Culture Ministry to implement a security plan.

Museum security remains a complex issue. The Art Loss Register’s James Ratcliffe warned, “Without further funding to improve museum security, we are likely to see an increase in the number of museum thefts we see.”