THE HAGUE, Netherlands — An international investigation is homing in on a gang of robbers believed to be responsible for a brazen multimillion-dollar jewelry heist at an art show in the Netherlands and two stolen gemstones have been recovered, Dutch police said Wednesday.
Smartly dressed robbers wielding sledge hammers snatched jewelry from display cases at an international art fair in the southern Dutch city of Maastricht nearly two years ago, triggering an international police operation to hunt them down and recover the loot that police say is worth tens of millions of dollars.
In their latest update on the progress of the investigation, police in the southern Dutch province of Limburg said they now have narrowed down the location of the robbers, who they previously said came from the Balkans.
“It is now clear that this concerns Serbia, more specifically the town of Nis. It cannot be ruled out that the suspects are currently staying there, but possibly also in Belgrade or the surrounding area,” police said in a statement.
The investigation team also said that a diamond taken from a necklace that was stolen in the robbery had been found in Israel and another in Hong Kong. Police last year reported the discovery of one of the diamonds, but at the time gave no further details.
“Both diamonds have been seized for examination,” police said in Wednesday’s statement, without giving details of when the stones were recovered.
Police had previously revealed that they were hunting for four men and said Wednesday that a woman also is a suspect in the heist.
Two more women are under investigation for allegedly returning a rental car to a company near the airport in the German city of Frankfurt. The two women are “at the moment, not suspects in the investigation into the robbery,” police said.
In a recent development, Dutch police have made significant progress in identifying suspects involved in a multimillion-dollar jewel heist that took place earlier this year. The heist, which occurred in the heart of Amsterdam’s famous diamond district, shocked the nation and left authorities scrambling to apprehend the perpetrators.
The heist, which took place in broad daylight, saw a group of armed robbers storming a high-end jewelry store and making off with a haul worth millions of dollars. The brazen nature of the crime and the precision with which it was executed left investigators baffled and the public in disbelief.
However, thanks to diligent police work and the use of advanced forensic techniques, authorities have been able to make significant headway in their investigation. DNA evidence recovered from the crime scene has led to the identification of several individuals believed to be involved in the heist. Additionally, surveillance footage from nearby businesses has provided crucial clues that have helped police narrow down their list of suspects.
The progress made by Dutch police in identifying the suspects has been hailed as a major breakthrough in the case. It is a testament to the dedication and expertise of law enforcement officials who have worked tirelessly to bring those responsible for the heist to justice.
The investigation into the jewel heist is ongoing, and authorities are confident that they will soon be able to make arrests and recover the stolen goods. The swift progress made by Dutch police in this case serves as a reminder of their commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that criminals are held accountable for their actions.
In conclusion, the recent developments in the investigation into the multimillion-dollar jewel heist in Amsterdam are a testament to the effectiveness of Dutch law enforcement. The identification of suspects marks a significant step towards solving the case and bringing closure to the victims of this audacious crime. It also sends a strong message to would-be criminals that they will be pursued and apprehended, no matter how elaborate their schemes may be.
