World | Other World Stories
Masked robbers walk away with top-of-line jewellery
In a heist worthy of Hollywood treatment, masked thieves entered the offices of a jewellery company using a tunnel they drilled through thick concrete, bypassing security and catching off-guard employees preparing for a weekend VIP showing.
- AP
- Published: 00:30 February 29, 2008
Milan, Italy: In a heist worthy of Hollywood treatment, masked thieves entered the offices of a jewellery company using a tunnel they drilled through thick concrete, bypassing security and catching off-guard employees preparing for a weekend VIP showing.
The robbers walked away on Sunday morning with bags full of jewellery of platinum, gold, diamonds and rubies, though apparently eschewing pearls, said Damiani SpA CEO Guido Damiani.
His third-generation family-run business caters to the stars from Brad Pitt to Isabella Rosellini to Tilda Swinton - who wore one of the luxury line's one-of-a-kind diamond bracelets to pick up her Oscar just hours after the robbery.
The losses are being inventoried and Damiani is not issuing estimates. But he discounted a 5 million euros (Dh27.5 million) figure cited by the Italian media.
The safe normally would have had even more valuable, unique pieces - but a "significant number" were on loan to stars attending the Oscars, including Swinton, or in Tokyo for the opening of a new boutique, Damiani said on Wednesday.
"Luckily, many of these pieces were not in the safe," he said in a telephone interview.
Lead investigator Francesco Messina said the heist was highly professional and that the robbers left few traces. "It will be a long investigation," he said.
The four thieves did not brandish arms, but entered initially under the ruse of representing Italy's powerful financial police.
Wearing face-masks and dark glasses, they forced four showroom employees, a caterer and a cleaning woman into a room, where they were bound after entering the central Milan showroom around 10am on Sunday, Damiani said.
"The timing was planned. They knew that there would be people in the building - otherwise they would not have been able to get into the safe - but that it would not be full," Damiani said.
"They were in the right place at the right moment. ... But I am confident that they will be found."
Share this article
News Editor's choice
-
Graham 'honoured to host' Palin for dinner
'America's pastor' had never met the former Alaska governor
-
Run-off to decide Romania president
New man in office vital to clinching much-needed IMF bailout loan
-
Cumbria mops up after severe flooding
Homes and businesses remain cut off
