10 Jun 2009

Picasso sketches stolen from Paris museum

8:49 am on 10 June 2009

A sketchbook of drawings by Pablo Picasso has been stolen from a museum in Paris.

French police say thieves seized the sketchbook containing 32 drawings from an unlocked glass case at the National Picasso Museum.

The drawings are valued at 8 million euros.

Police say there was no sign of a break-in and the museum's alarm was not set.

A police source described security at the museum as lax.

The museum houses more than 250 paintings, 160 sculptures and 1,500 drawings by the Spanish artist.