Messina [Italy], August 18: Thieves have stolen four Renaissance masterworks by Antonello da Messina valued at up to 80 million euros ($93mn) from the MuMe Regional Interdisciplinary Museum in the Sicilian city of Messina in Italy.
Cultural officials and Italian media reported the theft on Sunday, saying the heist occurred at about 9.50pm (19:50 GMT) the day before, during Sicily's major Ferragosto holiday.
Italian news outlet Il Giornale dell'Arte said that the perpetrators had exploited the citywide distraction of the traditional Vara procession, which drew police and large crowds to central Messina.
Italian daily Corriere della Sera reported that the thieves cut through metal perimeter fencing along Viale Annunziata to gain access to the grounds. They then forced open a side door to enter the gallery halls.
Once inside, the group breached an armoured glass display case to extract a small, double-sided tempera panel dating back to 1465-1474.
Source: Qatar Tribune