€100m diamond heist one of biggest in history

THE diamond heist in Antwerp where 123 vaults were cleared out was worth £68 million (€100m), Belgian authorities said yesterday, making it one of the biggest robberies in history.

The theft at the Diamond Centre earlier this month was “a piece of genius in its simplicity”, said Eric Sack, the city’s law chief.

Two Italian men, one Italian woman and a Dutch woman have been arrested in connection with the crime, but police have yet to recover any of the loot. They said they are also still hunting for the individuals who actually broke into the high security facility.

Sack described the four in custody as the Italian mastermind and his three associates. “It is pretty clear that those who executed the crime came over from Italy and our investigation is now centring on them,” he said. Police said the February 16 theft was the biggest in the history of Antwerp’s diamond district. When only five vaults were broken into a decade ago, the total stolen was estimated at £2.8 million (€4.12m).

“We would describe it as a piece of genius in its simplicity, not in the least because the security system was so thoroughly analysed,” said Sack.

The thieves found so much wealth that they did not have time, or did not bother, to take it all with them.

“The floor was strewn with safety boxes, gold, money, securities, cut and rough diamonds, jewels,” said Sack.