Stolen masterpieces found in unlocked car
Published: Feb. 19, 2008 at 9:58 PM
GENEVA, Switzerland, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Two of four Impressionist masterpieces stolen from a museum in an audacious heist in Zurich, Switzerland, have been found in good condition in an unlocked car.
Among the pieces looted last week from the E.G Buhrle Collection by three masked men, one of whom brandished a gun, were paintings by Paul Cezanne, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh.
The works were believed to be worth a combined $163 million.
The Washington Post described it as Switzerland's biggest art robbery.
Swiss police said Tuesday two of the purloined paintings -- Monet's "Poppies near Vetheuil" and van Gogh's "Chestnut in Bloom" -- were discovered by a parking lot attendant Monday in an unlocked car outside the University of Zurich Psychiatric Hospital, the Post reported.
"I am incredibly relieved that two paintings have returned," Museum Director Lukas Gloor told reporters Tuesday. "We're very happy that both the paintings are in absolutely impeccable shape."
"We don't know if the other two paintings are still in the country," Zurich police spokesman Michael Wirz told the Post in a phone interview. "The only thing I can tell you is that the robbers were not stopped, and we are still looking for them."
Among the pieces looted last week from the E.G Buhrle Collection by three masked men, one of whom brandished a gun, were paintings by Paul Cezanne, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh.
The works were believed to be worth a combined $163 million.
The Washington Post described it as Switzerland's biggest art robbery.
Swiss police said Tuesday two of the purloined paintings -- Monet's "Poppies near Vetheuil" and van Gogh's "Chestnut in Bloom" -- were discovered by a parking lot attendant Monday in an unlocked car outside the University of Zurich Psychiatric Hospital, the Post reported.
"I am incredibly relieved that two paintings have returned," Museum Director Lukas Gloor told reporters Tuesday. "We're very happy that both the paintings are in absolutely impeccable shape."
"We don't know if the other two paintings are still in the country," Zurich police spokesman Michael Wirz told the Post in a phone interview. "The only thing I can tell you is that the robbers were not stopped, and we are still looking for them."
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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