Munch painting stolen from Swedish estate

SKANE, Sweden, May 26 (UPI) -- A painting by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch was stolen from a Swedish estate owned by a close friend of Norway's King Harald, it was reported Friday.

Burglars broke into the Skane, Sweden, estate of former Norwegian Defense Minister Otto Grieg Tideman Tuesday night, Aftenposten reported Friday.

Police answering the burglar alarm found the front door broken and the only item taken was Munch's "Mot skogen," worth an estimated $260,370.

It was the latest in a spate of recent thefts of Munch works, which have been fetching record high prices, Aftenposten said.