Brazilian police find Picasso print stolen from Sao Paulo museum

2008-08-19 02:02:45 GMT2008-08-19 10:02:45 (Beijing Time) Xinhua English

RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Estacao Pinacoteca museum's stolen print "Minotaur, Drinker and Women," by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, was recovered Monday, Brazilian police announced.

The piece, which was stolen from the Sao Paulo museum on June 12, was the last one of four stolen artworks to be recovered.

Brazilian police launched an operation on Aug. 15 to retrieve the famed print. Three men allegedly involved in the heist have already been detained and three others have yet to be arrested.

According to the police, the thieves were not hired by anyone for the crime.

The museum's "Couple," printed by Lasar Segall, "Women at the Window," printed by Emiliano Di Cavalcanti were recovered on Aug. 7, and another Picasso print, "The Painter and the Model," was recovered on July 18.

The four pieces, which have a total value of 540,000 U.S. dollars, were taken away in broad daylight in the space of 10 minutes.

The crime was recorded by the museum's security cameras and the museum has improved its security supervision after the heist.

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