Jewels Worth Four Millions Stolen In Paris Ritz Heist

[Gimbiya]

The French police says a gang of five armed robbers launched a spectacular raid on the world famous Ritz hotel in Paris on Wednesday, making off a worth of four million euros worth of jewels.

The five armed robbers arrives with hatchets at the hotel in Paris' luxurious Place Vendome around 6:30 pm (1730 GMT) before smashing the windows on the ground floor and making off with the jewels.

Three of the gang were detained while fleeing the scene. Reports says some roads around the hotel were blocked by security forces following the incident. Two people were still being sought by authorities on Thursday evening.


One of the robbers, fleeing the scene on a bicycle, dropped a diamond-encrusted cross worth 30,000 euros, which was found by a passer-by a few hours later.

It remains the only piece to be recovered from the robbery.

"World-famous jewellers display their jewellery at the Ritz," a police source said.

A judicial source put the value of the jewels seized at "more than four million euros" ($4.75 million).

Interior minister Gerard Collomb praised officers' "professionalism" saying they had "done our police force credit".

"We heard a loud noise and lots of racket in the street," one hotel employee told AFP. "Passers-by took refuge in the hotel. We didn't know what was going on until someone told us there had been a robbery."

Another employee said he saw a motorbike speed along a road at the back of the hotel after the break-in.

Paris prosecutors have opened a probe into armed robbery, according to a judicial source.

Place Vendome, with its opulent window displays, has been the scene of several audacious daytime raids.


In March 2016, two robbers stole an estimated six million euros worth of jewels from luxury fashion brand Chopard after threatening employees with a gun and grenade. Three men were charged in connection with that heist.

Security had been boosted in the area, which also houses France's justice ministry, in 2014

thomasloaded