Hushed-up art theft solved, with 7 arrests

MADRID – Nearly a year after five works by artist Francis Bacon worth an estimated $27.8 million were stolen from an apartment in Madrid, seven people have been arrested, police said.

Police tracked down the suspects using photos that had been made of the paintings and distributed, police said Saturday.

Of the seven people arrested, two are suspected of being burglars, while two art dealers were arrested on suspicion of complicity.

The theft took place last year, but had been kept secret by investigators.

The burglars had switched off the property’s alarm system and made off with the paintings without leaving any fingerprints or traces of their presence.