Lilli Petroli art theft in Oricola, Italy

In the night of 28‑29 July 2026, a well‑organized group of about ten thieves broke into the administrative offices of Lilli Petroli in Oricola, province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo. They stole artworks worth an estimated €4‑5 million from the private collection of entrepreneur Mauro Lilli. The loot includes Giacomo Manzù’s bronze sculpture “La Ballerina” (weighing roughly ten quintals), “La Testa di Inge”, “Il Papa”, and several bas‑reliefs attributed to Pablo Picasso.

Investigators from the Carabinieri’s cultural heritage unit and territorial military police are reviewing CCTV, gathering forensic evidence and consulting the national database of stolen works. The stolen pieces could be destined for the international illicit art market, and authorities are pursuing all leads to recover them.