VIENNA: Two men reportedly stole a priceless platinum and diamond necklace worth an estimated $5 million from Vienna’s Museum of Applied Arts in a brazen daylight robbery, smashing a display case and escaping on foot.
The stolen necklace, created by French luxury jewellery house Van Cleef & Arpels, contains around 673 diamonds weighing approximately 200 carats. The Art Deco piece has a remarkable royal history and was previously owned by Egypt’s Queen Consort Nazli.
According to reports, Queen Nazli commissioned the necklace and wore it at the 1939 wedding of her daughter, Princess Fawzia of Egypt, who married Iran’s crown prince, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who later became the Shah of Iran.
The valuable necklace was later sold by Sotheby’s for $4.3 million in 2015, highlighting its exceptional financial and historical value.
The theft reportedly took place around 2pm on Friday, August 28, while the museum was open to the public. The two suspects allegedly entered the museum without attracting attention and purchased regular admission tickets like ordinary visitors.
Investigators say the men were not wearing masks when they entered the museum. Once inside, they allegedly approached the display containing the necklace, pulled out a hammer and smashed the protective glass case.
The suspects then grabbed the necklace and fled the museum on foot, carrying away one of the institution’s most valuable pieces in front of stunned visitors.
Vienna police immediately launched a manhunt for the two suspects and released CCTV footage as part of efforts to identify and locate them.
Investigators are reportedly examining the possibility that the theft was a planned organised crime operation rather than an opportunistic robbery. Authorities are also investigating whether the suspects may have been hired to steal the necklace for another party.
The unusual decision to enter the museum without disguises has added another layer to the investigation. Police are expected to examine surveillance footage from inside and outside the museum, as well as information about the suspects’ movements before and after the robbery.
The stolen Van Cleef & Arpels necklace is particularly difficult to replace because of its combination of precious materials, craftsmanship and royal provenance. Its historical significance could make it challenging to sell openly on the legitimate international jewellery market.
The theft has also renewed concerns about security at museums and cultural institutions holding extremely valuable jewellery and historic artefacts. European museums have increasingly faced sophisticated theft attempts targeting high-value objects that can potentially be moved through international criminal networks.
For now, the two suspects remain at large and the necklace has not been recovered. Austrian authorities are urging anyone with information about the robbery or the suspects to assist the investigation.
The brazen daytime theft has shocked Vienna and placed renewed attention on the security of priceless cultural and historical treasures held in museums across Europe.
