Four paintings by the French Impressionist artist Auguste Renoir were stolen in a pre-dawn burglary at the Musée Renoir in Cagnes-sur-Mer, in southeastern France, officials said. The artworks are estimated to be worth between $15 million and $18 million, and the theft has raised concerns about the security of France’s cultural heritage.

The break-in occurred at around 6 a.m. local time on September 25. According to local authorities, two suspects broke into the museum by cutting through a perimeter fence and smashing a window to gain entry. CCTV footage showed the thieves using tools, including an electric saw, to carefully remove the paintings from their frames in a matter of minutes before triggering the museum’s alarm. The alarm sounded at approximately 5:48 a.m., and municipal police arrived within five minutes, but the suspects had already fled.

Mayor Bryan Masson of Cagnes-sur-Mer described the perpetrators as "well-equipped and well informed," noting that they wore helmets, gloves, and combat-style clothing. He added that their actions indicated knowledge of the museum layout and security systems. The thieves reportedly left the museum with four paintings but dropped two of them in the museum’s garden as they escaped.

The stolen works taken during the heist include “Madame Colonna Romano” and “Jeune femme au puits” (The Young Woman at the Well). The two paintings left behind in the garden were identified as “Portrait of Madame Stephen Pichon” and “Coco Reading,” though authorities have not yet confirmed their condition.

Caroline d’Amat, deputy mayor for culture, heritage, and patronage in Cagnes-sur-Mer, commented on the recovery of the paintings dropped in the garden but noted that their state was still under evaluation.

The museum’s entire collection comprises 12 Renoir paintings, with all four targeted artworks coming from the same room. Authorities are investigating the possibility that the robbery was carried out "to order," suggesting the thieves may have been acting on behalf of art collectors or intermediaries.

This incident follows a recent pattern of high-profile art and cultural property thefts in France, including a daylight heist last year involving crown jewels valued at around $140 million from the Louvre in Paris.

Police have launched an investigation and are reviewing the museum’s CCTV footage and other evidence in an effort to identify and apprehend the suspects. The case is also drawing attention to the challenges of protecting culturally significant works from theft and illicit trafficking.