Thieves Raid Damiani Store in Milan; Jewelry Worth Millions Stolen

After spending weeks digging a tunnel from an adjacent building, four thieves wearing balaclavas, sunglasses and fake police uniforms entered the Damiani showroom in Milan on Sunday, tied up its staff and made off with millions of euros worth of jewelry.

With well-planned precision, the thieves avoided being caught on security cameras and didn’t set off a single alarm. According to the Times Online, police said the robbery, which was executed while the store’s owners were in Los Angeles for the Academy Awards, took less than 40 minutes, and they were investigating whether the thieves had inside assistance.

Fortunately, some of the store’s most valuable items were in Los Angeles for the Oscars, and, although Damiani stressed that it was too early to give exact figures, some sources claim the value of the stolen goods could total $20-$30 million.

The stolen jewelry included diamond-studded gold jewelry such as necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings, all reportedly insured.