A series of searches were conducted by over 1,500 police officers which resulted in the arrest of 3 people after what may have been the biggest jewel heist in history.
The operation was connected to the theft of 18th-century jewels from a unique collection in Dresden, Germany last November, and was coordinated by both police and prosecutors. The treasures stolen from the Green Vault Museum included a large diamond brooch, a diamond epaulette, and several other jewels, which totaled an estimated $1 billion.
The Green Vault, one of the world’s oldest museums, was established in 1723 and contains the treasury of Augustus the Strong of Saxony, comprising around 4,000 objects of gold, precious stones and other materials.
A total of 1,638 police officers from Saxony, Berlin and several other states, as well as federal special police forces were involved in the search of a total of 18 places, including 10 apartments and also garages and vehicles. The focus was on Berlin’s Neukoelln district.
According to Dresden police and prosecutors, the target of the search was “art treasures and possible evidence such as computer storage media, clothing and tools.”
The three people, identified only as German citizens with links to an Arab crime family based in the German capital, were arrested on suspicion of organized robbery and arson.
Soon after the theft, a 500,000-euro ($593,000) reward was offered by authorities for information leading to the recovery of the jewels, or the arrest of the thieves.
In March, prosecutors and police determined that an Audi S6 used in the theft and later set on fire in a Dresden garage had been sold to an unidentified buyer in August of last year. They believed that the young man who picked up the car from the seller in Magdeburg was connected to the break-in, releasing a sketch of him to the public. Authorities also said that the car may have been repainted prior to the break-in, which added to their suspicions that the theft was likely planned well in advance.
Analysis by investigators, which was based partially on video footage, led to the conclusion that at least seven people were involved in the heist.
