STOCKHOLM (AP).- A Swedish museum says it was not aware that three of its paintings, including a $1.5 million artwork by Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch, had been stolen until police stumbled on the canvases during another investigation.

Goran Christenson, head of the Malmo Art Museum, says police found the canvases on Wednesday and the southern Swedish museum only became aware of the theft when police contacted them.

Christenson says Munch's "Two Friends" and two paintings by Swedish artists had been taken down two weeks ago and placed in temporary storage.

It is not clear how and when the theft occurred.

Swedish media say the Munch painting is estimated to be worth $1.5 million.


Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.