Czech police look for stolen Picasso, Renoir paintings

Policemen in the Czech republic search for Pablo Picasso and Pierre-Auguste Renoir paintings that were stolen from a private collection of a Czech businessman in the town of Olomouc, a local police spokesman said, according to RIA Novosti.

The owner of the paintings said the stolen masterpieces were worth 415 million Czech kronas ($21 million).

"Unknown suspects broke into the house of the 51-year-old businessman in Olomouc and having retorted to violence forced the owner to give them the keys from his safe-deposit," the spokesman said adding that the businessman was seriously injured, but managed to call the police.

The paintings were stolen in mid-June, but police did not circulate the information until now in the interests of the ongoing investigation.

The spokesman added that there were two assailants, who stole one painting by Renoir, ten Picasso paintings and some other valuables, and if caught, they face up to 15 years in prison.