By Alyssa McMurtry
MADRID (AA) – Spanish agents have recovered three of five Francis Bacon paintings stolen from a Madrid apartment in 2015, according to police sources.
The Dublin-born painter’s five works, valued at €25 million ($29 million), were stolen from the Madrid apartment of the painter’s friend, along with a safe full of other expensive goods in June 2015.
Bacon, a world-famous artist, died while on vacation in Madrid in 1992.
Police have not yet released an official statement or provided further details about the recovery of the three paintings, but have confirmed the news to several media sources.
Officials say the search continues for the remaining two paintings.
Police have already arrested 10 suspects linked to the heist. In May 2016, seven were arrested after a British entity responsible for finding lost paintings, tipped off Spanish police that venders had sent original photos of the paintings, according a 2016 police statement.
In January 2017, police detained three more individuals related to the robbery. According to a statement from the time, the detained were part of a group suspected of carrying out 16 other robberies throughout Spain.
During the January raid, police found suspected robbery equipment including firearms, oxy-fuel cutting equipment, frequency inhibitors, uniforms from telecommunications companies, fake keys, laser measurement sensors, insignia from security companies and a guide to unlocking safes.
In 2013, Bacon’s six-foot triptych of his friend Lucian Freud broke records to become the most expensive painting ever sold. It went for $145 million at a Christie’s New York auction.
