jewel theft

$25 Million In Harry Winston Jewels Recovered In Paris Drain

Filed under: Jewelry, Crimes and Misdemeanors

You never know where stolen jewels might turn up but this latest find seems like a scene straight from a movie. BBC News reported that some of the jewels stolen from the Harry Winston boutique in Paris in 2008 have been recovered. In December 2008 four armed men entered the store around closing time and walked off with more than $100 million in jewelry and diamonds. No one was injured. This theft did have one quirky detail, at least two of the thieves wore wigs and women's clothing and addressed some of the store's staff by name.

French police have found some of the jewelry, around $25 million worth, hidden in a drain in a Paris suburb. A total of 19 rings and three sets of earrings were found inside a plastic container which was set into a cement mold at a house in Seine-Saint-Denis likely secreted away by the crafty crooks. The home belonged to one of the people being charged in the robbery. In the last few years police have interviewed at least 25 people in connection with the robbery and nine people were charged and jailed in 2009.

Tags: harry winston, jewel theft, jewel thieves, jewelry, paris

International Jewel Thief Doris Payne Awaits Sentencing

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Crimes and Misdemeanors

International jewel thief Doris Payne proves you are never to old to have sticky fingers. Payne, who is 80, was convicted of walking in to a San Diego Macy's in January 2010 and walking out with a diamond ring worth nearly $9,000 that she did not pay for.

For decades, Payne has relied of her beauty and charm to beguile jewelry store employees into displaying treasures while she simply pockets the jewels when the clerk isn't looking. Payne has served time in six states and has a long Interpol record but ABC News reports that Payne's lawyer says that this conviction is a case of mistaken identity. The lawyer claims that Payne's notoriety has made made her an easy target. Halle Berry was attached to a project to play Payne in a big screen caper titled "Who Is Doris Payne?"

For her part, Payne seems to enjoy the attention, confirming that some of the stories about her, including legendary tales of thefts in Paris and Monte Carlo are true. She also can't seem to stay away from temptation, the LA Times says that a surveillance tape of her at a Scottsdale, Arizona Neiman Marcus store examining the jewelry counter may have played a role in keeping Payne from being released on bail while she awaits sentencing. Sentencing is scheduled for February 9.

Tags: doris payne, jewel theft

Auction House Robbed In Sweden

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Crimes and Misdemeanors

Sweden's Bukowskis auction house was planning a spring sale to run June 1 through 4 but those plans were disrupted when thieves raided the auction house on Thursday. Three masked and armed men made off with approximately $1.5 million in jewels. Bloomberg reports that Bukowskis was set to sell 300 pieces of jewelry including a jeweled collar with white and yellow diamonds.The thieves took off in a car which was later found abandoned near the scene of the crime. No one was harmed.

Tags: bukowskis, jewel heist, jewel theft, robbery, sweden, theft

Big Robbery At London's Graff Jewelers

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Crimes and Misdemeanors

Another big jewelry store robbery, this time in London at Graff Jewelers on New Bond Street. CNN reports that around $65 million in merchandise was stolen. A pair of robbers walked into the store last week in the afternoon and threatened employees with handguns. They made off with 43 items including rings, bracelets, necklaces and watches. The robbers brought a female worker outside with them before making their getaway in a blue BMW. A shot was fired outside but no one was injured. The men later abandoned the BMW, switching first to a Mercedes and later to another vehicle. Surveillance images show two men dressed in suits and ties. One man is white, the other is black and they both had London accents. The robbery is the latest in a series of thefts in the Bond Street area.

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Tags: graff jewelers, GraffJewelers, jewel theft, jewel thieves, JewelTheft, JewelThieves, london

Jewel Thieves Strike In Cannes

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry

The Cartier store in Cannes, France has been the latest victim of the "Pink Panthers" gang. A group of armed robbers in Hawaiian shirts converged on the store in the French Riviera on Monday. The ringleader pulled out a handgun and directed everyone to lie on the floor. His accomplices made quick work of the jewels, watches and other luxury goods in the store and then the entire team took off on motorbikes.

The Pink Panthers earned their nickname in 1993 by stealing a huge diamond from jewelers in London's Mayfair area and hiding it in a jar of face cream similar to the method used in the original Peter Sellers movie. It is believed that members of the gang are former soldiers from eastern Europe. They are known for their feats of daring which are almost cinematic in nature. In 2005 they struck at a jeweler in Saint Tropez and made their getaway by boat. The gang is thought to be a loose network of maybe 200 or so people which has made attempts at capture difficult for law enforcement.

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Tags: cartier, jewel theft, jewelry thieves, JewelryThieves, JewelTheft