MESSINA. A well-planned heist, carried out on the night of Ferragosto inside the Regional Interdisciplinary Museum of Messina (MuMe). Some thieves managed to enter the exhibition halls by bypassing the security systems and taking three of the five panels of the famous Polyptych of San Gregorio and the double-sided panel with the Madonna and Christ in Pietà, taken directly from a bulletproof case. The incident occurred around 9:50 PM, while the traditional Vara procession was underway in the city. A context that may have favored the criminals’ action, taking advantage of the large crowd and general distraction.
Read more Son dies in the passenger seat during a car trip, parents realize it at the service area
The director: «A huge loss for the city»
The museum director, Marisa Mercurio, described the theft as a shocking event: «Two of the most important and well-known works by Antonello da Messina have been taken. A great loss for the museum, the city, and the community.» Mercurio expressed confidence in the work of the authorities: «We hope they manage to arrest those responsible.»
The hypothesis of a commissioned theft
According to initial investigative assessments, the heist may have been commissioned by a collector, attracted by the value of the works. In recent months, the spotlight on MuMe had been turned on after the purchase of a work by Antonello da Messina for 15 million euros, an event that had drawn international attention. The municipal councilor for Culture, Enzo Caruso, commented bitterly: «No one could have imagined in Messina a real movie-like heist like at the Louvre.»
The investigations: checks at embarkation points and internal verifications
Immediately after the theft, authorities began checks at the embarkation points for Villa San Giovanni, in an attempt to intercept the thieves. However, the checks yielded no results. It is unclear whether the works are still in Sicily. The investigation is coordinated by deputy prosecutor Maria Di Mulo, while operational investigations are entrusted to the police. Investigators are questioning museum employees and security staff to understand if the thieves may have had inside help.
Read more Bad weather in Tuscany, storm alert: risk areas and updated forecasts
The dynamics: bent grates and escape with the panels
The call to 112 came from a citizen who reported the presence of some panels of the Polyptych on Viale Annunziata. From there, the reconstruction of the dynamics began. To enter, the thieves may have used the grates protruding onto the avenue: two bars are bent, as if they had been forced to allow passage. According to initial estimates, three or four people were involved.
A heist that shakes the city
MuMe is known worldwide for the masterpieces of Antonello da Messina and Caravaggio. The theft of the Polyptych panels represents a deep wound for the city and for the Sicilian cultural heritage. Investigations continue relentlessly, while the community awaits to understand if the works can be recovered.
