A renowned Roman jeweller was the victim of a daring heist in Italy. £420,000 worth of gems were stolen from their Bulgari store on Via Condotti, Rome. The thieves executed a Hollywood-style robbery, drilling into the shop's basement and making their escape through the ancient sewers below.
The gang believed to consist of 3-5 masked burglars, blocked a side door to impede police entry while they raided the store's display cabinets. Despite triggering a silent alarm, which promptly alerted a security firm and the police, the criminals managed to evade capture. Responding officers faced resistance as it took nearly five minutes to breach the barricaded door.
Witnesses reported hearing the thieves urging each other to flee as they made their escape into the labyrinthine network of Rome's underground tunnels. Marco Placidi, from the group Sotterranei di Roma, explained that the city's sewer tunnels, dating back to ancient Roman times, provided ample cover for the culprits' escape.
Authorities suspect the thieves may have scoped out the store beforehand, possibly posing as customers to familiarize themselves with its layout. This brazen act echoes previous incidents where criminals dug tunnels to access banks and other establishments across Rome.
Romolo Guasco, head of Confcommercio, expressed grave concern over the recurring thefts and called for enhanced surveillance and preventive measures. Bulgari, established in 1884, remains a symbol of luxury, adorning celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn for over a century.
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