Hunt for thieves goes on as most of jewels stolen in heist are found
POLICE IN Paris have recovered most of the jewels stolen from the Ritz Hotel in a dramatic heist but are still searching for two thieves and any remaining missing luxury merchandise.
The robbery on Wednesday evening raised questions about security in one of the world’s most prestigious areas, the Place Vendôme, whose well-guarded buildings include the Justice Ministry, high-end boutiques and the 19th-century Ritz.
Workers cleaned up shattered glass yesterday and started to repair damage from the robbery. Otherwise, business appeared to be returning to normal at the hotel, with no significant increase in security.
Three perpetrators “entered by the service entrance, smashed the jewellery stands, grabbed jewels that were clearly expensive with the help of axes”, said JeanMichel Huguet of police union Alliance Police Nationale. They seized watches from display cases holding wares from Rolex and Piaget, and then targeted the Reza jewellery boutique inside the hotel.
The suspects inside 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 quickly arrested.
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 pedestrian was slightly injured.
Other jewels were found scattered amid the debris of the shattered display cases during overnight clean-up efforts.
The overall value of the jewels on display was estimated at about 4.5m euro (£3.9m).
A judicial official said that most of the jewels appeared to have been recovered. Authorities were working with the jewellers to determine if any items are still missing and their value, according to the official.
Another police official said some of the thieves apparently had guns.