Elvis thieves miss those blue suede shoes

Thieves have stolen Elvis Presley jewellery and memorabilia worth €267,000 in a raid in Las Vegas.

But the raiders at the Elvis-A-Rama museum left behind a million-dollar gem: the King’s blue suede shoes.

Museum owner Chris Davidson said the thieves stole up to 80% of the jewellery on display.

Police said the suspects stole a truck and drove it into the museum’s rear door, then used lead pipes to break open three Plexiglas cases. The bandits were in the museum less than five minutes, police estimated.

Among the stolen inventory: a gold-plated handgun, a custom scarf, a bracelet and watch, Presley’s Humes High School ring from 1953 and a Louisiana Hayride “E. Presley Day” ring from 1956.

Davidson’s personal favourite was an E.P. diamond pendant and chain, and a ruby and diamond star-shaped ring Presley bought in Las Vegas for €59,000.

“Those two pieces, I’m crushed over,” Davidson said. “It’s devastating.”

Davidson, who opened the museum in November 1999, purchased the items from auctions and Presley’s former bodyguards, friends and acquaintances. Presley was known to freely give jewellery and other possessions away.