Police are searching for a burglar who stole over £10 million ($12.5 million) worth of custom-made jewelry in what is believed to be one of the largest thefts from a British home. The incident took place in north-west London, in the upscale Avenue Road area.
According to London’s Metropolitan Police, the thief entered the property through a second-floor window at around 5 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET) on December 7, while the homeowners were away. The burglar took £150,000 worth of Hermes Crocodile Kelly handbags, £15,000 in cash, and £10.4 million worth of bespoke jewelry.
Police are searching for a suspect described as a “white man in his late 20s to 30s,” who wore a face covering, dark hoodie, cargo pants, and a baseball cap during the burglary.
The stolen items include a 10.73-carat diamond ring from Graff, two butterfly diamond rings from De Beers, a 3.03-carat diamond ring, an aquamarine ring, and a necklace from Hermes. Police also released an image of a bracelet with the name “Shafira” on it. Other items taken include Chopard diamond earrings and various pieces from the luxury French brand Van Cleef & Arpels.
Detective Constable Paulo Roberts, who is investigating the case, described the crime as “brazen,” noting that the suspect entered the home while possibly armed and violated the sanctity of the victims’ space. He added that much of the stolen jewelry is unique and sentimental, making it easily recognizable.
Csaba Virag, the chief of staff for the family, told The Guardian that the break-in seems to have been carried out by a “lone wolf,” although selling the stolen items could involve a larger network. He also mentioned that he was at home when the burglary occurred.