December 31st 2024.
In a daring heist that has left authorities stunned, a skilled thief managed to steal a staggering $21 million worth of jewelry and designer items in just 19 minutes. The incident, which took place at a luxurious mansion on Avenue Road in St John's Wood, London, has been described as one of Britain's largest home burglaries in recent history.
The Metropolitan Police in London have released photos of the stolen goods, which include a number of bespoke items. Avenue Road, also known as "Billionaire's Row," is a highly coveted address that is home to many wealthy individuals, predominantly from the international community.
According to reports, the burglar gained access to the 13-bedroom mansion through a second-story window at 5:11 pm on December 7. After rummaging through a few rooms, the thief made their way downstairs and broke into a safe, escaping through the same window just 19 minutes later, at 5:30 pm.
Among the stolen items were several Hermès Crocodile Kelly handbags worth a total of $300,000, $30,000 in cash, and a staggering $21 million worth of jewelry. This included a 10.73-carat diamond ring by Graff, two butterfly diamond rings by De Beers, a 3.03-carat diamond ring by Hermès, an aquamarine ring, and a "Niloticus Lumière" necklace.
At the time of the robbery, there were approximately eight people in the mansion, including staff and family members. Detective Constable Paulo Roberts has urged anyone who may have witnessed anything suspicious in the area to come forward with information. He also stressed that many of the stolen items are unique and easily identifiable, making it difficult for the thief to sell them.
"This was a brazen crime, where the perpetrator entered the property armed with an unknown weapon and violated the sanctity of the victims' home," Roberts stated. "We are appealing to anyone who may have seen something out of the ordinary in the area of Avenue Road, NW8, to come forward with information. Additionally, if you have been offered any of the stolen items for sale or have any further information, please contact the police or Crimestoppers anonymously."
Csaba Virag, the chief of staff to the family, was present in the mansion at the time of the break-in. He stated that the video footage of the thief in action suggests that they were experienced and had likely committed similar crimes before. While the robbery appears to have been carried out by a lone individual, Virag believes that the thief may have accomplices who could help them sell the stolen items.
Determined to bring the perpetrator to justice, the family has offered a reward of up to $1 million for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. They have also offered an additional reward of 10% of the value of any items that are recovered. Authorities are continuing to investigate the case and are urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in bringing the thief to justice.
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