Oscar saves the day in daring daylight heist

by eyetee | March 17, 2008 12:00 am

[1]Damiani may call itself ‘jeweller to the stars.’ But now the Italian company can thank its lucky stars for the Oscars.

While Hollywood’s elite prepared for the 80th annual Academy Awards, masked bandits were drilling into Damiani’s basement through a metre-thick wall shared with a neighbouring building.

Employees were preparing for a VIP showing when thieves pushed four showroom employees, a caterer, and a cleaning woman into a room and bound them. One of the employees was forced to open the safe and the thieves made off with gold, diamonds, and emeralds.

Were it not for the Oscars, more valuable and one-of-a-kind pieces that were out on loan to Hollywood stars would have been stored in the safe.

By entering the building through the basement, the bandits were able to get past armed guards posted at the entrance. An alert neighbour grew suspicious and called police after seeing men loading bags into a van.

The family-run company was established 85 years ago. Damiani is not issuing any estimates on the loss.

Source URL: https://www.jewellerybusiness.com/news/oscar-saves-the-day-in-daring-daylight-heist/