The Harry Winston Heist - Avenue Montaigne
In December 2008 several men, some disguised in wigs and women's clothing, walked into the Harry Winston boutique on Avenue Montaigne and grabbed around 85 million euros of jewels in minutes; more than two dozen suspects were later arrested, convictions followed, and some of the loot was famously recovered hidden in a drainpipe.
Über diesen Ort
Avenue Montaigne is one of the most exclusive stretches of pavement in the world, a short, discreet avenue lined with the flagship stores of Dior, Chanel and Louis Vuitton and anchored by the Plaza Athenee hotel. At number 29 stood the Paris boutique of the American jeweller Harry Winston, famous for dressing Hollywood stars in diamonds. In December 2008 it was the scene of one of the largest jewel heists in French history. A small group of men, some of them disguised in wigs and women's clothing, entered near closing time, appeared to know details about the staff, and in a matter of minutes swept up roughly 85 million euros in jewellery before vanishing. The investigation was long, but more than two dozen suspects were eventually arrested and several convicted, and in one of the strangest twists of the case, some of the recovered jewels were found stuffed inside a drainpipe.
Wissenswertes
- 85 million euros — The approximate value of the jewels taken from the Harry Winston boutique in minutes.
- 25 suspects arrested — More than two dozen people were later arrested as the gang was unravelled.
- 2008 year — The headline raid took place in December 2008, near the boutique's closing time.
📍 Avenue Montaigne 29, 75008, Paris