Paris jewel thief takes $8m haul

[malaise]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8075392.stm
<snip>
Jewellery worth more than 6m euros (£5m, $8m) has been stolen from an exclusive Paris store in broad daylight by a lone gunman, police sources say.

Dressed in a suit and fedora, the man entered Chopard on Place Vendome and reportedly made staff hand over 15 pieces of jewellery at gunpoint.

The mid-afternoon hold-up lasted two minutes, after which the robber, said to be in his 50s, calmly walked out.

Chopard jewellery is worn by stars at the Oscars and Cannes film festival.

Place Vendome is an elegant old square known for its luxury hotels, and is also home to numerous jewellery stores as well as the French justice ministry.

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. I would bet their security system was excellent

As with all security systems, there is flaw somewhere. The flaw in their system may have been a well planned walk-in robbery. I will wager that this guy will be caught however. Walk-ins are the easiest to catch as a general rule.

[AzNick]

3. Probably a very experienced robber

Guy probably had done this several times in the past and was extremely confident, and sounded strong headed enough to shoot.

[babylonsister]

2. A discerning robber! He knew the haul he'd get from 15 pieces.

Maybe the store hired him. Or not!

[tabatha]

7. He may have been in there before as a potential buyer.

[BlooInBloo]

4. Guess: Inside job.

[malaise]

9. Guess he knew the rich are at the French Open

Should be fun to see if he's ever caught.

[BlooInBloo]

5. Semi-off-topic: My all-time fav robbery....

http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/10/crook_hires_dec.html;jsessionid=C2ER43ATDHG3GQSNDLOSKHSCJUNN2JVN

"About a dozen men who answered a job ad on Craigslist discovered too late that their employer was a bank robber who had hired them to assist his getaway by dressing as decoys.

According to Seattle CBS affiliate King5, a man wearing a construction respirator mask assaulted an armored car guard with pepper spray in Monroe, Wash., on Tuesday and ran off with the bag of money the guard had been carrying.

The robber fled on foot toward a nearby creek, and one witness said he floated away on a waiting inner tube.

To confuse pursuers, the robber had placed an ad on Craigslist for workers for a road maintenance project. The ad promised $28.50 an hour.

Those who answered the ad were told to meet near the Bank of America in Monroe, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. They were told to wear a "yellow vest, safety goggles, a respirator mask ... and, if possible, a blue shirt," said Mike (no last name given), according to King5's report.

The robber was dressed the same way.

It's not clear whether the dozen or so identically clad would-be workers made life harder for the police investigating the crime. But the incident demonstrates how effective social engineering cons can be, online or offline."

[tabatha]

6. That was in Oct 2008 - he has not been found?

[BlooInBloo]

8. I think I heard he got caught eventually. Still, A+ for creativity.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. Paging Inspecteur Clouseau of the Surete.