Royal raid

Hunt on for brazen thieves

Swedish police are hunting two men who brazenly stole the country’s crown jewels during daylight before escaping in a motorboat.

Reminiscent of the Pink Panther heist films, the crowns of King Karl IX and Queen Christina, as well as a royal orb, were snatched from Strangnas cathedral on Wednesday around lunchtime. Police raided two locations in Strangnas yesterday but admitted they were struggling to find any clues.

‘‘It’s 1-0 to them right now,’’ Thomas Agnevik, a police spokesman, told reporters. ‘‘It is not possible to put an economic value on this, it is invaluable items of national interest.’’

The 1611 gold burial crowns were originally interred with the couple but were later exhumed and had been on display in a locked cabinet in the cathedral, 100km west of Stockholm.

Stefan Dangardt, another police spokesman, said Interpol had been brought in to help apprehend the thieves, along with Swedish helicopters and canine units.

‘‘Several people were seen leaving the church by boat or waterscooter after the theft.

‘‘We have spoken to witnesses, but we are interested in further information from anyone,’’ he added.

Tom Rowsell was having lunch outside the cathedral where he is to marry this weekend.

He told Aftonbladet, a Swedish newspaper: ‘‘I saw a white little boat with an outboard motor on the back. The two men hurriedly jumped on board and it sped off. I knew immediately they were burglars, because of the way they were behaving.’’

AP A police cordon is set up near the scene of a robbery at the Strangnas Cathedral, in Strangnas, Sweden.

AP A collection of Swedish Crown jewels, some of which were taken by thieves in broad daylight and escaped by speedboat.