FRANCE: Lone thief robs Parisian jewellery shop of up to 10 million euros worth of goods

Record ID: 572427

  • Title: FRANCE: Lone thief robs Parisian jewellery shop of up to 10 million euros worth of goods
  • Date: 31st May 2009
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 30, 2009) (REUTERS) PLACE VENDOME TO CHOPARDS SHOP IN PARIS VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF CHOPARD JEWELLERY SHOP EMPTY WINDOW DISPLAY SECURITY SYSTEM SIGN ON FRONT WINDOW PLACE VENDOME STREET SIGN SHOP ENTRANCE CLOSED SHOP WINDOWS WITH HANDBAGS EMPTY WINDOW DISPLAY VARIOUS OF HANDBAGS IN WINDOW DISPLAY PEOPLE LOOKING AT HANDBAGS IN WINDOW DISPLAY TV STATION TRUCKS PARKED NEAR CHOPARD HANDBAGS IN WINDOW DISPLAY OLIVIER LEBON, POLICE INVESTIGATOR, BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (French) OLIVIER LEBON, POLICE INVESTIGATOR, SAYING: "According to the information we have, a man in his 50s, wearing a suit and a Borcalino hat walked into the shop like a normal customer and waved a gun at the employees. He demanded that they give him several of the items in the window display. The value of what he took is estimated between 6 and 10 million euros." CAMERAMAN FILMING EXTERIOR OF CHOPARD SHOP
  • Embargoed: 15th June 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA59ABTC5RJKCLO24GSLTU0WHD4
  • Story Text: A lone gunman robbed a chic Paris jewellery store on Saturday (May 30), walking out of the Chopard shop on Place Vendome with up to 10 million euros ($13.99 million) of goods, police said.
    The man entered the prestigious boutique, pulled out a gun and forced staff to hand over some 15 pieces of jewellery, police said.
    The heist, which took place in mid-afternoon, came after a gang of armed men stole gems worth 85 million euros from jewellers Harry Winston in Paris in December, a robbery described by the media as one of the biggest in recent history.
    "According to the information we have, a man in his 50s wearing a suit and a Borcalino hat walked into the shop like a normal customer and waved a gun at the employees. He demanded that they give him several of the items in the window display. The value of what he took is estimated between 6 and 10 million euros," said Olivier Lebon, a police investigator.
    Based in Switzerland, Chopard is known for adorning movie stars strutting on red carpets at high-profile events such as the Cannes film festival or Hollywood's Academy Awards.
    Police have noted a marked increase in robberies in recent years.
    The Harry Winston raid came almost a year to the day after the same store was attacked by robbers who forced staff to empty its safes, taking at least $16 million worth of jewels.
    Earlier this month, two key members of the "Pink Panthers" international gang of jewels thieves were arrested in Paris, Interpol said.
    The "Pink Panthers" have accumulated loot worth up to $200 million in an estimated 120 attacks on luxury stores in some 20 countries since their first robbery in London's chic Mayfair district in 2003.
    END
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