Connect with us

World News

Thieves Steal Swedish Royal Jewels in a Daring Day Time Heist

Avatar of CTN News

Published

on

 

STOCKHOLM – On Tuesday, two thieves stole one 17th century golden orb and two crowns belonging to the Royal family from a cathedral near Stockholm where they had been on display in an alarm-locked glass box, before escaping by watercraft into the Mälaren lake that spans 120 kilometers and is filled with hundreds of small islands.

The thieves, who have not been identified, and the jewels are being sought internationally via Interpol, Swedish police spokesman Stefan Dangardt said, noting the objects were a “national treasure” and would likely be “very difficult to sell”.

crowns

The 1611 gold burial crowns belonging to King Karl IX and his wife Queen Christina were originally interred with the couple but were later exhumed and had been on display in a locked cabinet in Strangnas Cathedral, located 100 kilometres west of Stockholm.

King Karl IX’s crown is made of gold and features crystals and pearls, while Christina’s is smaller and made of gold, precious stones and pearls.

“We have as yet no value of the stolen goods, except that it is a national treasure,” Dangardt told AFP.

“Several people were seen leaving the church by boat or watercraft after the theft. We have spoken to witnesses, but we are interested in further information from anyone that has made any observations,” he said.

Tom Rowsell, who was having lunch outside the cathedral where he is to be married this weekend, told daily Aftonbladet he saw two men dash from the building toward a motorboat waiting on Lake Malaren.

“I saw a white little boat with an outboard motor on the back. The two men hurriedly jumped on board and it sped off,” he said.

“I knew immediately they were burglars, because of the way they were behaving,” he added.

‘Not possible to sell’

The theft occurred just before noon on Tuesday, and police quickly had helicopters, patrols, and search dogs looking for the thieves but their efforts have so far proved fruitless, Dangardt said.

thieves flee on boat after stealing swedish crown jewels

“There is of course going to be a lot of media interest in these types of objects. There will be pictures in the media. It’s just not possible to sell these kinds of objects,” the national police coordinator for thefts of cultural artifacts, Maria Ellior, told news agency TT.

“So we can only speculate about (the thieves) intentions,” she added.

Similar heists have occurred before.

In 2013, King Johan III’s burial regalia was stolen from Vasteras Cathedral. It was recovered several days later in a garbage bag left on a a countryside road, following an anonymous tip.

“One can hope that something like that will happen in this case,” Ellior said.

The perpetrators of Tuesday’s heist risk up to six years in prison for aggravated theft.

Agence France-Presse

 

Continue Reading

CTN News App

CTN News App

Recent News

BUY FC 24 COINS

compras monedas fc 24

Volunteering at Soi Dog

Find a Job

Jooble jobs

Free ibomma Movies