Hunt for thieves after Ritz robbery

PARIS — Police have recovered some jewels stolen from the Ritz Hotel in a dramatic heist, but are still searching on Thursday for two thieves and the rest of the missing luxury merchandise.

The robbery on Wednesday evening raised questions about security in one of the world’s most prestigious neighborhoods, the Place Vendome, whose well-guarded buildings include the Justice Ministry, high-end boutiques and the 19th century Ritz.

Workers cleaned up shattered glass on Thursday morning and started to repair damage from the robbery. Otherwise business appeared to be returning to normal at the Ritz, with no significant increase in security.

Three suspects entered the hotel through an unmarked side door, smashed display cases and threw bags of goods out a window to at least two accomplices outside, according to a police official.

The three inside were then blocked when they tried to flee through another door, and soon arrested, the official said.

The accomplices outside fled, one on a motorcycle and another in a car.

The motorcyclist dropped a bag with jewels and hatchets when his motorcycle hit a pedestrian during his escape, the official said. The pedestrian was lightly injured, the official said.

Other jewels were found scattered amid the debris of the shattered display cases during overnight cleanup efforts, the official said.

The overall value of the jewels on display was about 4.5 million euros ($5.4 million), and authorities were working with the jewelers to determine how many items are still missing and their value, the official said.

Another police official said some of the thieves apparently had guns. Two people inside the hotel hid from the thieves and alerted police, the official said.

Patrons at the hotel’s renowned Hemingway Bar described panic as the thieves entered the hushed environment of the Ritz, where rooms start at $1,200 a night.