Paris thieves steal 80 million euros of Harry Winston gems

05 December 2008 - 10H02

- crime - France

Armed robbers burst into the prestigious Paris jeweller Harry Winston, located near the world-famous Champs Elysees avenue, snatching jewels worth 80 million euros (100 million dollars), French police said.

REUTERS - Armed robbers stole millions of euros worth of gems in a raid on the luxury Harry Winston jewellers off the Champs Elysees, police said on Friday.

Three men entered the shop on Thursday evening and forced staff to hand over almost all the jewels on display before making their getaway.

French media estimated the value of the haul at anywhere between 47 million euros and 62 million euros ($60 million-$80 million), but police said it was too early to be sure of the exact sum.

"The haul is worth several million euros. The estimates change," said a police spokesman.

The attack came almost a year to the day after another raid on the same store. On that occasion masked robbers forced staff to empty the store's safes during a morning heist, taking at least $16 million worth of gems.

Investigators believe the robbers this week were very well informed about their target. "Apparently they knew the names of some of the staff," the spokesman said.