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ROME — <\/span>Thieves made off with three paintings by Renoir, C\u00e9zanne and Matisse worth millions of euros (dollars) from a museum near the city of Parma in northern Italy, police said on Monday.<\/p>\n The heist took place on the night of March 22-23, with thieves forcing open the entrance door, police said.<\/p>\n The three stolen paintings are \u201cFish\u201d by Auguste Renoir, \u201cStill Life with Cherries\u201d by Paul C\u00e9zanne, and \u201cOdalisque on the Terrace\u201d by Henri Matisse.<\/p>\n The Magnani Rocca Foundation, a private museum, lies in the heart of the countryside 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Parma.<\/p>\n Local media reported that the thieves were able to nab the paintings in less than three minutes and escape across the museum gardens.<\/p>\n Established in 1977, the foundation hosts the collection of the art historian Luigi Magnani and also includes works by D\u00fcrer, Rubens, Van Dyck, Goya and Monet.<\/p>\n The museum believes a structured and organized gang was responsible for the theft, which was interrupted by the alarm, local media reported.<\/p>\n The museum didn’t post any statement about the theft on its website and wasn’t reachable for a comment, as it is closed on Monday. <\/p>\n The crime in Parma comes after a series of high-profile heists at major European museums, including a major incident in October where thieves stole jewels and other items worth 88 million euros ($101 million) from the Louvre in Paris.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n