In brief
In the early afternoon, two men smashed a glass case and walked away with a platinum and 600‑diamond necklace worth over $4 million. The theft, captured by CCTV, has prompted police to release images and call for public tips. The necklace, a historic piece commissioned for Egypt’s royal family and once worn by Queen Nazli, was part of a Van Cleef & Arpels exhibition. Experts warn the incident underscores rising security risks at European museums, as similar burglaries have plagued institutions across the continent.
Two men violently broke into Vienna’s Museum of Applied Arts this Thursday, smashing a glass case to grab a priceless 600‑diamond necklace.
Police say the thieves fled toward the city’s Stadtpark, carrying a suspected weapon. The stolen piece—a platinum band studded with over 200 carats of diamonds—was valued at more than $4 million.
The necklace, originally commissioned for Egypt’s royal family, had recently been showcased in a Van Cleef & Arpels exhibition. Authorities released CCTV footage of the suspects and urged anyone with information to come forward.
Security experts point to a disturbing trend of more violent museum thefts across Europe, especially in light of similar incidents in Paris, Spain, and Italy.
Ongoing investigations involve forensic teams in Vienna and Lower Austria, with a police dog unit now canvassing the area. The exhibition has been reopened after the incident.
Image: The necklace as it appeared before the theft.