Estimate of French diamond heist raised to €103m

A lone man wearing gloves, a cap, and a scarf to mask his face sneaked into a diamond show in a luxury Cannes hotel and made off with some €103m of loot, a French state prosecutor said yesterday — more than twice the initial estimated take from the weekend hold-up.

Police had previously said Sunday’s theft at the Carlton Intercontinental Hotel had netted €40m worth of treasure — even at that level, one of biggest jewellery heists in recent years.

Contacted by The Associated Press, Philippe Vique, an assistant prosecutor in the Riviera town of Grasse, said the Dubai-based organiser of the diamond show had since raised the value based on a more complete inventory.