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Thieves steal rare Indian jewels in Venice

January 4, 2018

Without setting off the alarm system, two men have made off with rare jewelry from a collection worth a "few million euros." Venice's police commissioner has described the thieves as "very skilled professionals."

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Jewels displayed at the 'Treasures of the Mughals and the Maharajahs' exhibition in Venice
Image: picture-alliance/AP/A. Merola

Thieves stole several items of Indian Maharajahs' treasures displayed at a Venice exhibition, Italian police said on Wednesday.

A man managed to open a display case at the exhibition without triggering the alarm system while an accomplice kept watch.

The alarm system sounded only after the two men had escaped and disappeared into a crowd outside the Palazzo Ducale, where the exhibition was held, in the renowned Saint Mark's Square in Venice.

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Venice police commissioner Vito Gagliardi said the thieves likely had previous experience stealing high-profile goods.

"We are certainly dealing with very skilled professionals, who got away with it even though the building and the rooms were kitted out with very advanced technological systems," said Gagliardi.

'Few million euros'

The thieves stole a jeweled golden brooch and a pair of earrings. Although authorities have placed a customs value of just €30,000 ($36,000) on the jewelry, its actual worth was a "few million euros," according to Gagliardi.

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The collection displayed at the "Treasures of the Mughals and the Maharajas" exhibition was assembled by the late Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah al-Thani and now belongs to a member of the Qatari royal family.

ls/sms (AFP, Reuters)