Italian museum robbed of 17 paintings worth $15 million.

Armed robbers stole 17 paintings from the Castelvecchio Museum of Art in Verona, Italy; these included works by renowned artists such as Tintoretto, Rubens, and Mantegna.

According to the local newspaper The Local, three men dressed in black broke into the museum during the shift change. They tied up and gagged the security guard and treasurer before stealing the paintings. They then hid in a security guard's car before escaping in another vehicle.

Museums in Italy. (Source: dailymail)

The stolen paintings include six works by Tintoretto, as well as paintings by Rubens, Jacopo Mantegna, Jacopo Bellini, and Hans de Jode. Paola Marini, director of the Castelvecchio Museum, said the 17 paintings are worth approximately $15 million.

Verona Mayor Flavio Tosi commented that the three thieves were highly professional. They knew the value of the paintings and were familiar with the museum.

According to Mr. Tosi, this robbery was "commissioned" by someone because the thieves carried it out very precisely, in a well-organized manner, and with a clear objective.

The theft occurred after the last visitors had left the museum. The Ministry of Culture and police forces in Italy are searching for the perpetrators.

This theft raises questions about the low level of security in many Italian museums, particularly in local museums, where security is much more lax than in museums in major cities like Rome and Milan.

According to Vietnamplus