Thieves steal 600-diamond necklace from Vienna museum in broad daylight
Two suspects stole a 600-diamond necklace worth over $4 million from the Vienna Museum of Applied Arts in broad daylight. The thieves, who were armed, escaped after smashing a display case during an exhibition of Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry.
Why it matters
This high-profile heist highlights ongoing security vulnerabilities in European museums housing priceless historical artifacts.
Image source, LPD Wien Image caption, Vienna police released CCTV images of the suspects
An international manhunt is under way for two men who stole a necklace decorated with more than 600 diamonds from a museum in Vienna after buying a ticket for the exhibition in which it was being displayed.
Police said the two suspects smashed a glass display case at the Vienna Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) on Thursday afternoon and grabbed the platinum and diamond necklace, which is believed to be worth more than $4m (£3m; €3.5m).
The necklace, which was designed for the former Egyptian royal family, was part of an exhibition on the jewellers Van Cleef & Arpels, due to run at MAK until September.
The theft is the latest in a series of spectacular heists of artefacts at European museums.
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