Museum Heist: Thieves Steal Priceless Necklace After Buying Tickets
By Editor • August 29, 2026 • 1 min read
In a brazen act of theft, two men managed to steal a stunning 200-carat platinum and diamond necklace worth millions from the Museum of Applied Arts in Vienna. The necklace, part of an exhibition featuring the renowned French jeweler Van Cleef and Arpels, was snatched just before the exhibit's scheduled end on September 27.
According to police reports, the thieves cleverly purchased entry tickets and entered the museum without arousing suspicion. Once inside, they smashed a glass display case with a hammer and made off with the valuable piece. Security footage captured their actions, as they did not conceal their identities.
The necklace, adorned with 673 precious stones, has a storied history, once worn by Queen Nazli of Egypt during her daughter's marriage to the future shah of Iran in 1939. While the museum confirmed the theft, it has refrained from making further comments during the ongoing investigation.
The heist comes on the heels of several high-profile incidents across Europe, including a recent daylight robbery at the Louvre in Paris. As the trend of audacious museum thefts continues, the art community remains on high alert.
Source: www.abc.net.au
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