In brief
In the late afternoon on Thursday, two men broke into Vienna’s Museum of Applied Arts and stole a platinum necklace studded with over 600 diamonds, a piece valued at more than $4million. The museum, which was hosting a Van Cleave & Arpels exhibition, had tightened security after recent European museum thefts. Police released CCTV footage of the suspects and seized a supposed firearm. The thieves fled toward the Vienna Stadtpark, prompting an international manhunt. Europol noted an increase in violent museum thefts, hinting at new criminal networks. The exhibition has reopened after the theft, and police are deploying dog units and forensic teams to retrieve the necklace.
Two men broke into Vienna’s Museum of Applied Arts and smashed a glass display case to abscond with a platinum necklace studded with more than 600 diamonds. The piece is valued at over $4million and was on display as part of a Van Cleave & Arpels exhibit.
The necklace, designed for the former Egyptian royal family, weighed in excess of 200 carats and was worn by Queen Nazli in 1939 for the wedding of her daughter Fawzia to the future Shah of Iran.
Police released CCTV footage of the suspects and are actively seeking information. One suspect is believed to have carried a weapon. The thieves fled toward the Vienna Stadtpark to escape police.
MAK’s director Lilli Hollein confirmed the museum had planned a security plan with Van Cleave & Arpels, but the incident showed “how hard it can hit us.” Staff remained calm and followed procedures, and no injuries were reported.
EUropol warned that museum thefts are becoming more violent, suggesting new criminal networks. Other recent European heists include a Spanish museum’s Bronze‑Age artefacts and paintings stolen from Italian museums. The Louvre in Paris was also raided last October, stealing priceless jewels.
Police dog units are deployed across Vienna and Lower Austria, and forensic experts are analysing evidence and CCTV footage. The exhibition was reopened after the theft, but the necklace is still missing.
