Cannes Diamond Thief Still at Large

The Atlantic reported that the thief who stole $136 million worth of jewelry from an exhibition at the Intercontinental Carlton Cannes hotel back in July has still not been caught. John Shaw, a Paris-based insurance adjuster who is working with the French police, believes the recovery of the gems is “not probable but it is possible.”

As quoted in the market news:

“[The thief] was professional and very rapid,” Phillip Vique, an assistant prosecutor in the nearby town of Grasse, told the New York Times a day later. Vique told The Atlantic he was no longer divulging details about the investigation, which is ongoing.

The robber was not confronted with a particularly intimidating scenario. Because the exhibit had not yet opened, there were no hotel guests or customers milling about. In fact, he had arrived at exactly the most opportune moment, just beforethe high-profile jewels were to be loaded into secure display cases.

He did have to contend with a small group that had gathered in the room: two vendors, a show manager, and three unarmed private security guards, according to the Associated Press. But the threat of the firearm was evidently enough to hold them off.

Click here to read the full report from The Atlantic.