An armed gang targeted the prestigious Piaget jewelry store in central Paris. The incident took place on the chic Rue de la Paix, a stone’s throw away from renowned landmarks like the Ritz Hotel and the Place Vendôme.
The complex thieves, wearing grey suits and a lady in a green dress, stormed the luxury store, brandishing a handgun equipped with a silencer. They immediately subdued the staff and continued to empty the display cases and safe, grabbing an estimated $11 to $16 million worth of precious jewelry and high-end watches.
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As per French media reports, the daring trio entered the store during noon, surprising the personnel with their swift and well coordinated operation. The robbers ordered most of the employees to lie on the floor at the back of the store, while one worker had to open the protected display cases and the protected at gunpoint. The use of a handgun equipped with a silencer demonstrated their planning and determination to avoid attracting attention.
Luxury Jeweler Piaget
Piaget, founded in 1874, is an eminent Swiss luxury jeweler and watchmaker known for creating elegant timepieces and high-end jewelry. Their watches alone can cost huge number of dollars, making the stolen loot a highly lucrative target for the thieves.
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The company has a worldwide presence, with stores across the world, and is an subsidiary of the Richemont group, which owns other luxury brands like Cartier, Baume and Mercier, Chloe, and Van Cleef and Arpels.
Following the heist, the Paris prosecutor’s office quickly launched an investigation for armed robbery. Law enforcement authorities are diligently working to identify and apprehend the perpetrators, using any available leads and surveillance footage from the area.
The incident denotes a critical challenge for France’s special BRB police unit, responsible for targeting armed robberies and burglaries in the country.
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The brazen heist at Piaget features developing worries about the security of luxury jewelry stores in Paris. The city’s prestigious shopping districts, like Mourn de la Paix and Place Vendôme, are known for housing high-end jewelry boutiques.
Recent incidents, including a robbery at the nearby Bulgari store a few months ago, have raised questions about the need for enhanced security measures and vigilance among store owners. The Piaget heist is only one of a few high-profile robberies that have happened recently, targeting luxury items and affluent individuals.
The increasing frequency of such incidents is worrying law enforcement and jewelry and watches union representatives. They highlight the post-pandemic time frame as an expected contributing factor to the rise in robberies and burglaries, as criminal activities often fluctuate during periods of economic instability.
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