A multimillion-dollar diamond necklace has vanished from a Vienna museum.
The suspects apparently walked in with ordinary exhibition tickets.
Police say two unmasked men smashed a glass display case at the Vienna Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) on Thursday.
They escaped with the platinum necklace, worth more than $4 million.
One suspect was reportedly carrying what appeared to be a real firearm.
So how did they get away? After grabbing the 200-carat-plus necklace, the pair fled towards Vienna’s Stadtpark.
Police have released security-camera images and launched an international manhunt.
Museum Security Concerns
The stolen piece has a remarkable history. Designed by Van Cleef & Arpels for Egypt’s former royal family, it was worn by Queen Nazli in 1939.
It was worn at her daughter Fawzia’s wedding to Iran’s future Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
MAK director Lilli Hollein said the museum had taken security “very seriously” and carefully prepared measures for the exhibition.
No one was injured, and the exhibition later reopened—minus its star attraction.
The robbery is part of a worrying trend. European museums have recently suffered several high-profile thefts, including the Louvre’s spectacular jewellery raid.
With Europol warning that museum thieves are becoming “increasingly aggressive,” one question hangs over Europe’s galleries.
Are priceless treasures becoming easier targets than ever?
