Major Heist: Antonello da Messina Artworks Stolen

Over the weekend, thieves executed a major heist at the Regional Museum of Messina (MuMe) in Sicily, stealing priceless artworks by Antonello da Messina. The burglary occurred around 10:00 p.m. on Saturday night, coinciding with the Assumption holiday celebrations, when local police and the public were distracted by a town parade.

The stolen Renaissance paintings are valued between $81 million and $92 million. The criminals managed to bypass security guards and alarm systems, taking three panels from the famous 1473 San Gregorio Polyptych and smashing an armored display case to seize a double-sided panel depicting the Virgin Mary and Christ.

Although they unscrewed all five panels, two were left behind as they fled. Local cultural officials described the loss as a disaster for the city, emphasizing the need for improved security measures during major events to protect high-value art.