Cannes hit by €17.5m jewel heist

Thieves made off in a Mercedes that was later found burnt out in a residential part of town One of the robbers wore an old-man mask and carried a pistol as he barged into the store, letting in two accomplices with scarves around their faces, while a fourt

F F our robbers looted €17.5 million (Dh72.8 million) in jewellery and watches from a boutique in the French resort town of Cannes just days before the start of its star-studded film festival, sources said yesterday.

The Riviera town that hosts the red carpet extravaganza has become a key target for thieves carrying out film-worthy heists at a time of year when top jewellers have their best pieces in stock to adorn the globe’s hottest celebrities.

Security boost

The threat of such thefts and jitters four months after militants attacks in Paris left 17 dead have led authorities to boost security for the glittering festival which sees the population of the small town triple to 210,000 people.

The latest robbery came on Tuesday at the Cartier boutique on the beachfront promenade known as the Croisette.

One of the robbers wore an old-man mask and carried a pistol as he barged into the store, letting in two accomplices with scarves around their faces, while a fourth man stood guard outside, said sources close to the investigation. Two employees and a shopper were in the store at the time.

The robbers stuffed the jewellery and watches into a leather satchel and jewellery bag. In their rush to escape, a number of expensive watches fell to the pavement and were recovered by the store.

It was not known whether the stolen items were brought in especially for the film festival.

The thieves made off in a Mercedes that was later found burnt out in a residential part of town. The car had been stolen in March.

Police are using surveillance cameras from the store in a bid to identify the thieves.

The large Cartier store sits next to the luxury Carlton hotel, which was also hit by a jewellery theft in July 2013 while it was hosting an exhibition and sale by Israeli brand Leviev.

On that occasion, the thief helped himself to over €140 million worth of items — including diamond-encrusted jewellery — after breaking into the hotel through a door on the ground floor.