Armed robbers stole diamonds valued at 85 million euros ($108 million) from the Paris branch of jeweler-to-the stars, Harry Winston, Paris city prosecutors said. Yesterday, four armed men entered the store on Avenue Montaigne near the Champs-Elysees shortly before it closed at 5:30 p.m. At least 2 of the men were in drag! They took almost all the jewels on display and forced the staff to give them diamonds from storage. No shots were fired. The prosecutor’s office said that “we are clearly dealing with well-organized, ruthless criminals.â€
The branch was closed today, with a sole security guard outside saying he knew nothing about what happened yesterday. Three of the window displays were empty, while a diamond pendant and two jewel-encrusted watches were in the other two.
Television news cameras and curious tourists gathered on the street. This is the second time this branch of Harry Winston has been hit- just over a year ago, in a similar raid, the thieves made off with more than $25 million in baubles. That robbery was considered the most spectacular…until now!