Four arrested over ‘biggest heist ever’ in diamond capital

AUTHORITIES in Belgium arrested three Italians and a Dutchwoman in connection with the plundering of 123 maximum-security vaults, likely the biggest heist ever in the diamond-cutting capital of the world, police said yesterday.

The four were arrested over the weekend in connection with the heist, estimated to be worth many millions of euro, and were put in solitary confinement until a court decides on their continued detention tomorrow, said Leen Nuyts, a magistrate at the prosecutor’s office in this port city.

She said they were arrested based on “developments in the ongoing investigation”, but declined to give more information. Despite the arrests, none of the stones have been recovered.

Daily newspaper De Morgen said the four had rented office space in the building where the vaults are kept only a few months ago.

The theft has already been called “the biggest diamond heist of the century” in Antwerp and Nuyts said initial assessments of the losses suggest this is the case.

Thieves cleared out more than two-thirds of the 160 vaults during the weekend of February 15 at Antwerp’s Diamond Centre, a trade office at the heart of the old diamond district where police and surveillance cameras are highly visible around the clock.

A decade ago, when only five vaults were robbed in the cellar, the heist was estimated at €4.25m.

Even 10 days after the theft, police could not establish a full estimate of the losses, since many of the traders and cutters who were abroad had not provided information on the content of their vaults, said Nuyts.

The High Diamond Council industry association said the haul was certainly worth many millions of euro.

It remains a mystery how robbers entered the Diamond Centre. Surveillance cameras cover the building and special passes are required to gain access. Round-the-clock guards protect the vaults.

There was no sign of a break-in at the entrance or the cellar. Police suspect inside co-operation.