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Crimes of the Times: 2018’s Biggest Jewel Heists
Jan 1, 2019 5:09 AM
By Leah Meirovich
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RAPAPORT... A slew of heists rocked the jewelry industry in 2018, making headlines worldwide. Rapaport
News looks back at four of the biggest thefts of last year — and one of the tiniest.
Swedish Royal Jewels
In August, thieves stole priceless royal artifacts belonging
to former Swedish monarchs Karl IX and Kristina. The robbers took the items from
a display case during a raid on the Strängnäs Cathedral, before
escaping in a speedboat. The stolen items, which include two crowns and a
golden orb adorned with a crucifix, date back to the early 17th century, and
were part of the king and queen’s funeral regalia. The criminals have yet to be
located.
British Headache
The November swiping of the diamond-laden Portland Tiara created
for Winifred, the duchess of Portland, to wear to the 1902 coronation of King
Edward VII was only the latest in a string of royal thefts in 2018. Security at
the Portland Collection gallery in Nottinghamshire, England, missed the thieves
by 90 seconds. Neither the tiara nor the perpetrators have been found.
Jewelry from the Qatari Royal Family
Five men were arrested in Croatia for seizing approximately
$2.2 million worth of jewelry owned by a member of the Qatari royal family. The
January heist happened on the final day of an exhibition, “Treasures of the Mughals and the
Maharajahs,” at Doge’s Palace in Venice, Italy. While the jewels have
not yet been recovered, one of the suspects is believed to be a member of the
Pink Panthers, an international network of jewelry thieves.
Putting on the Ritz
In January, five men armed with guns and axes burst into the
Paris Ritz, smashed display cases in the hotel’s jewelry shop, and stole
approximately $5.2 million worth of jewels. Three of the thieves were stuck
inside when the security system automatically locked the doors, but one managed
to throw the bag of jewels out of the window to an accomplice waiting on a
scooter. The trapped men were taken into custody. While all the jewels have
since been recovered, two of the suspects are still at large.
Diamond Ant-ics
In August, a criminal pulled off a daring caper in broad
daylight, and in plain sight. The culprit stole more than its own weight in
diamonds, dragging it along in an attempt at a quick getaway. The perpetrator
was a greedy New York ant captured on video by the dealer it stole
from, as it made its way across a desk with its prize (see video below). Authorities have not
released any details on sentencing or how much time the insect will serve.
Image: The Portland Tiara. (Nottinghamshire Police/Facebook)
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Tags:
Doge’s Palace, Leah Meirovich, Paris Ritz, Pink panthers, Portland Collection Gallery, Portland Tiara, Rapaport News, Strängnäs Cathedral, the duchess of Portland, Treasures of the Mughals and the Maharajahs, Winifred
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