€1m diamond necklace stolen at exhibition

A diamond necklace worth more than €1m was reported stolen from a stand at an international jewellery exhibition, officials said today.

The Cartier necklace was stolen on Friday night from the stand its owners, a well-known local company known as Asia Jewellers, had set up at the Bahrain Exhibition Centre.

The jewellery show, which opened on October 15, opened as planned today its last day.

Asia Jewellers officials were not available for comment.

Police and exhibition security officials told The Associated Press they had two suspects but no arrests has been made. They declined to elaborate.

It was the first such theft at the annual exhibition, which began in 1992.

“I think it is done by a professional,” said Younis al-Jama’, owner of Home Secure, which has provided surveillance cameras to the event for the past six years.

Al-Jama’ said the company had installed over a dozen cameras, many of them hidden, at exits and entrances and throughout the venue.

Armed police were stationed at exits and entrances. Although the venue has many doors, all but one point for entry and exit were closed for the show.

Show organisers, speaking on condition of anonymity today, said that after the theft was reported on Friday, police searched some 2,000 visitors. The necklace was not found.

“We were told that it’s extremely safe here, but it’s unfortunate that something like this has happened,” Ulrike Kielbassa, a German jewellery exhibitor whose stand was just about three metres (yards) from the Asia Jewellers stand, said today.

“We are not worried, but we are extremely careful now,” said Kielbassa, who had pearl-and-diamond necklaces on display. “This is our first time here, but we are looking forward to coming back next year.”

This year’s event dubbed, Jewellery Arabia 2002, featured €1bn of diamonds and other gems, gold and silvery jewellery, and watches.

Some 500 companies from 36 countries, including Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Hong Kong, India and Thailand took part.

Among the most expensive items is a €6m necklace by Van Cleef and Arpel.